Immunology Glossary
82 terms
- Active Immunity
- Immunity developed by own immune system.
- Adaptive Immunity
- Specific immune response that develops after exposure to pathogens.
- Adjuvant
- Substance enhancing immune response.
- Allergy
- Hypersensitive immune response.
- Anaphylaxis
- Severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.
- Antibody
- Protein produced by immune system to fight specific antigens.
- Antibody-Mediated Immunity
- Immunity involving antibodies.
- Antigen
- Substance that triggers immune response.
- Autoimmune Disease
- Disease caused by immune attack on self tissues.
- Autoimmunity
- Immune response against self tissues.
- Basophil
- White blood cell involved in inflammatory reactions.
- B Lymphocyte
- White blood cell that produces antibodies.
- Cell-Mediated Immunity
- Immunity involving T cells.
- Clonal Expansion
- Multiplication of specific lymphocytes during immune response.
- Clonal Selection
- Process of selecting specific lymphocytes to respond.
- Complement System
- Protein system that enhances immune response.
- Cross-Reactivity
- Antibody reaction with similar antigens.
- Cytokine
- Signaling molecule in immune system.
- Cytokine Storm
- Excessive immune response causing inflammation.
- Dendritic Cell
- Antigen-presenting cell that activates T cells.
- ELISA
- Test detecting antibodies or antigens.
- Eosinophil
- White blood cell that fights parasitic infections.
- Epitope
- Specific part of antigen recognized by immune system.
- Flow Cytometry
- Technique analyzing immune cells.
- Graft Versus Host Disease
- Immune cells attacking recipient tissue.
- Hypersensitivity
- Excessive immune response causing tissue damage.
- IgA
- Antibody found in mucous membranes.
- IgD
- Antibody involved in B cell activation.
- IgE
- Antibody involved in allergic responses.
- IgG
- Most common antibody in blood.
- IgM
- First antibody produced in immune response.
- Immune Checkpoint
- Regulatory pathway in immune response.
- Immune Complex
- Combination of antibody and antigen.
- Immune Response
- Body's reaction to foreign substances.
- Immune System
- Body's defense system against pathogens and disease.
- Immunization
- Process of becoming immune to specific disease.
- Immunodeficiency
- Weakness in immune system function.
- Immunofluorescence
- Technique using fluorescent antibodies.
- Immunoglobulin
- Protein molecule that acts as antibody.
- Immunoglobulin Classes
- Different types of antibodies.
- Immunohistochemistry
- Technique detecting antigens in tissues.
- Immunological Barrier
- Defense against pathogen entry.
- Immunological Competence
- Ability to mount immune response.
- Immunological Diversity
- Variety of immune responses possible.
- Immunological Enhancement
- Increased immune response.
- Immunological Memory
- Long-lasting protection against pathogens.
- Immunological Network
- Interactions between immune components.
- Immunological Paralysis
- Inability to respond to specific antigen.
- Immunological Rejection
- Immune response against transplanted tissue.
- Immunological Response
- Reaction of immune system to stimulus.
- Immunological Specificity
- Precise recognition of antigens.
- Immunological Surveillance
- Monitoring for abnormal cells.
- Immunological Synapse
- Contact between immune cells.
- Immunological Test
- Test measuring immune response.
- Immunological Tolerance
- Lack of response to specific antigen.
- Immunological Window
- Period of susceptibility to infection.
- Immunoprecipitation
- Technique isolating antigen-antibody complexes.
- Immunosuppression
- Reduction of immune response.
- Immunotherapy
- Treatment using immune system.
- Inflammation
- Protective response to injury or infection.
- Innate Immunity
- First line of defense, non-specific immune response.
- Interferon
- Protein that interferes with viral replication.
- Interleukin
- Type of cytokine that regulates immune response.
- Macrophage
- Large white blood cell that engulfs pathogens.
- Major Histocompatibility Complex
- Proteins that help immune system recognize self from non-self.
- Mast Cell
- Cell that releases histamine in allergic reactions.
- Monoclonal Antibody
- Identical antibodies from single clone.
- Mucosal Immunity
- Immune defense at mucous membranes.
- Natural Killer Cell
- Lymphocyte that kills virus-infected and tumor cells.
- Neutrophil
- White blood cell that fights bacterial infections.
- Opsonization
- Process making pathogens easier to phagocytose.
- Passive Immunity
- Immunity received from another source.
- Phagocytosis
- Process of engulfing and destroying pathogens.
- Primary Response
- Initial immune response to antigen.
- Secondary Response
- Enhanced immune response upon subsequent exposure.
- T Lymphocyte
- White blood cell that helps destroy infected cells.
- Tolerance
- Lack of immune response to specific antigen.
- Transplant Rejection
- Immune response against transplanted tissue.
- Tumor Immunity
- Immune response against cancer cells.
- Vaccination
- Introduction of antigen to stimulate immunity.
- Vaccine
- Preparation that provides immunity.
- Western Blot
- Technique detecting specific proteins.