Specific Vs Non Specific

[darkheavens]

List the differences between a specific and non specific immune response.

Can anyone give me a full mark answer to this?

[lexitu]

How many marks is it worth?

[darkheavens]

8 marks

[TrueLight]

just copying this from another reply

and 1st line is innate too but just the barriers etc..
Innate immunity (2nd line involve the immune cells of the innate system) (non specific)
-recognises structures on numerous microbes
-receptors are encoded in germline
-does not have specificity fo different types of microbes
-does not react against host due to specificity of microbial structures only and regulatory molecules that prevent immune reactions
-responds same way each encounter by microbe
-does not have immunological memory
-does include physical barriers, innate immune cells, different cytokines
-fast reaction time
-has complement which can attract leukocytes to site of infection and enhance adaptive immune response
-activates molecules that are needed by T and B lymphocytes
-same response when antigen is encountered

Adaptive immunity (3rd line) (specific)
-can recognise specific antigens on specific microbes
-receptors are produced by random recombination of receptor genes during maturation
-specificity diversity
-can react against host if receptors escape positive and negative selection
-responds more efficiently to each successive encounter with microbe (immunological memory)
-includes B and t cells
-takes longer than innate to react
-produces antibodies and cytokines to activate innate immune cells
-bigger response next time encounters the same antigen

http://dms.dartmouth.edu/aitrp/shortterm/pdf/3_innate_immunity.pdf (go to page 9 , 10 it has a table)
http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/ghaffar/innate.htm
http://abdoscience.com/2005-2006/4th_biochemistry_special/Lecture%206.pdf
http://student.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/lecguide/unit4/innate/innate.html
http://immuneweb.xxmu.edu.cn/wenzhai/pdf/007802.pdf (a bit in depth where figure 1 the top half is innate immunity and bottom is adaptive)

[lexitu]

Holy shit... I've never seen a question worth more than 3 marks in an exam. Anyway, I'll give it a shot.
-Specific immunity involves mainly lymphocytes, non-specfic immunity involves mainly myeloid cells
-Antibodies are produced in specific defence, they are not produced in non-specific immunity
-Non-specific defence reacts the same to all foreign material, adaptive acts by producing specific responses (haha, obviously)
-Specific immunity involves clonal expansion, non-specfic immunity does not
-I give up, there are obviously many more differences but they are the general ones that I can think of.

[darkheavens]

thanks for the replies guys .
would this be a difference?
specific immune response - a response requires the presence of antigens
non specific immune response - a response does not require the presence of antigens

[lexitu]

Hmm good question  , I would say no because immune system cells still recognise the general shape of non-self antigens (they have non self receptors even though they are not ultra-specific). Anyone else?

[Edmund]

thanks for the replies guys .
would this be a difference?
specific immune response - a response requires the presence of antigens
non specific immune response - a response does not require the presence of antigens

aleitu is right

Also, antigens stimulate an immune response, both the specific and non specific

For an 8 mark question, I would suggest 4 differences.

[TrueLight]

hmm yeah the innate immune system still sees antigen...

like so an antigen can bind to an antibody and pretty much there is a large enough b cell receptor reservoir that bcr can recognise a vast array of molecules...
and remember an antigen has to pass through the innate immune system to end up getting an adaptive immune response...

idunno usually i just say the innate immune system recognises PAMPS- pathogen associated molecular patterns ... structures common among bacteria or virus etc..

[darkheavens]

alright, thanks for clearing that up.

one last question. a pathogen enters the human body and is engulfed by a macrophage. the macrophage then displays the antigens of the pathogen on its cell surface.
Is it:
a)a T-helper cell that reacts with the antigen, identifying it as 'non-self', causing the Th cell to reproduce and proliferate into Ct and Mt cells
or
b)a T-cell reacts with the antigen, identifying it as 'non-self' and causing the T-cell to reproduce and proliferate into Ct, Mt, Th cells

[TrueLight]

a

remember when macrophages display peptides they get from the extracellular environment it goes through the MHC 2 pathway... MHC class 2 can only be recognised by helper t cells... and helper t cells are crucial for really getting the adaptive immune system going...

proliferate into Ct? cytotoxic t cells? helper t cells dont' proliferate into CTL's... they become effector cells that secrete cytokines and can helper naive CD8 cells become activated

[simpak]

There is never going to be a question worth 8 marks on a Biol exam.
JSYK.

[TrueLight]

this also might be helpful seeing as you guys are nearly up to the imm part...bumping