Edexcel immune response GCSE

Define antigen.

• A protein produced by a white blood cell.

• A chemical which can cause an immune response.

• An enzyme used to digest a pathogen.

• A cell which can destroy pathogens.

Define antibody.

• A protein produced by a white blood cell.

• A chemical which can cause an immune response.

• An enzyme used to digest a pathogen.

• A cell which can destroy pathogens.

Describe the function of a lymphocyte.

• Engulf and digest pathogens.

• Bind to antigens and destroy pathogens.

• Produce antibodies or remember pathogens.

• Find and heal wounds in the skin.

Describe how your specific immune response works.

• Specific antibodies bind to a specific antigen to destroy it,

• Specific pathogens destroy the specific lymphocytes.

• Random phagocytes will digest the random pathogens.

• Random pathogens will bind to the specific antigens.

Explain how we become immune to a pathogen.

• Antibodies produced by lymphocytes remain in the blood forever.

• Phagocytes remember the pathogens and can digest them faster next time.

• Lysozymes and stomach acid can destroy the pathogens before they enter the body.

• Memory lymphocytes remember pathogens and activate antibody producing lymphocytes quickly.