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What is a definition of hypersensitivity? a. maladaptive immune responses to otherwise harmless proteins b. measure of the attraction between an antigen and an antibody c. total binding strength of a multivalent antibody with an antigen d. binding of an antibody to an antigen different from the one that elicited its synthesis

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. maladaptive immune responses to otherwise harmless proteins

Step by step solution

01

Read the Question Carefully

Understand the question which asks for the definition of hypersensitivity.
02

Review the Four Options

Examine each option carefully. Option a: maladaptive immune responses to otherwise harmless proteins, Option b: measure of the attraction between an antigen and an antibody, Option c: total binding strength of a multivalent antibody with an antigen, Option d: binding of an antibody to an antigen different from the one that elicited its synthesis.
03

Eliminate Incorrect Options

Consider if options b, c, and d correctly define hypersensitivity. Option b describes affinity, option c describes avidity, and option d describes cross-reactivity.
04

Identify the Correct Definition

Identify which option best describes hypersensitivity. Option a is indeed the description of a maladaptive or exaggerated immune response to harmless proteins.
05

Confirm the Answer

Reevaluate and confirm that option a is the correct definition for hypersensitivity.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

maladaptive immune response
Hypersensitivity is a type of maladaptive immune response. This happens when the immune system reacts strongly to harmless proteins, causing damage instead of protecting the body. More precisely, hypersensitivity can lead to allergic reactions or autoimmunity. For example, in allergies, the immune system attacks harmless substances like pollen, causing sneezing and other symptoms. In autoimmune diseases like lupus, the body mistakenly targets its own tissues, leading to inflammation and damage.
affinity
Affinity describes the strength of the interaction between an antibody and a single antigenic determinant (a specific part of an antigen). Think of it as a lock and key mechanism. A higher affinity means the antibody binds tightly to its specific antigen, much like a key fitting perfectly into a lock. This interaction is crucial for the immune system’s ability to identify and neutralize pathogens efficiently.
avidity
Avidity refers to the overall binding strength when multiple antigen-binding sites on an antibody interact with multiple determinants on an antigen. It is essentially the sum of all affinities and is usually stronger than a single affinity interaction. Imagine Velcro strips sticking together; even if one hook is loose, many others are still holding tight. High avidity ensures stable and effective immune responses, especially in complex antigens with multiple binding sites.
cross-reactivity
Cross-reactivity occurs when an antibody binds to an antigen different from the one that initially triggered its production. This happens because the antigens share similar epitopes, which are the parts that the antibody recognizes and binds to. Cross-reactivity can be both beneficial and problematic. It’s beneficial when it leads to broader protection against different pathogens. However, it can cause issues like false positive results in diagnostic tests or autoimmune reactions, where the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy cells.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Researchers have been working on developing methods for stimulating the human immune system to recognize foreign proteins as self proteins. Why would this research be applicable to treating allergies? a. In an allergy, a person’s immune system has been compromised, which causes unpleasant symptoms. b. In an allergy, a person’s immune system reacts to its own proteins, which causes unpleasant symptoms. c. In an allergy, a person’s immune system reacts to a harmless protein from the environment, which causes unpleasant symptoms. d. In an allergy, a person’s immune system reacts to a harmless protein from the environment, which causes pleasant symptoms.

How does an antibody molecule bind specifically to one antigen but not to others? a. due to the presence of a specific antigen binding site b. due to the constant region c. due to diversity of variable region d. due to the complete antibody structure

What function does the diversity of the variable region of an antibody help it perform? a. It helps in communication of antibodies with other components of immune system. b. It helps the antibodies to function with very low affinity and specificity. c. It enables many different antibodies to be made that all have different specificities of binding. d. It enables many different antibodies to be made that all have same specificities of binding.

What component of the innate immune system is not part of the adaptive immune system? a. T cells b. antibodies c. mast cells d. B cells

The human genome contains less than 50,000 genes, yet a human has the capability of producing more than 1012different antibody molecules. How can this evidence be used to support the claim that the human body has an immune system that is both effective and efficient? a. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can specifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This specificity makes the immune system more effective. The immune system is also efficient because each antibody need to have its own gene. b. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can nonspecifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This non-specificity makes the immune system more effective. The immune system is also efficient because each antibody does not need to have its own gene. c. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can specifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This specificity makes the immune system more efficient. The immune system is also effective because each antibody does not need to have its own gene. d. There are so many different antibody molecules that can be made, each of which can specifically target a particular pathogen to destroy it. This specificity makes the immune system more effective. The immune system is also efficient because each antibody does not need to have its own gene.

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