Antigens are molecules that stimulate antibody production.

• Define antigen.

• List example antigen molecules.

Red blood cells have surface proteins that act as antigens in a person with a different blood group. 

• Outline the difference between the ABO blood antigens.

• State the four human ABO blood types.

• Describe the consequence of mismatched blood transfusions, including agglutination and hemolysis.

Every organism has unique molecules on the surface of its cells (11.1.U1).

Antigens on the surface of red blood cells stimulate antibody production in a person with a different blood group (11.1.A1)

Initial Knowledge Audit (ICI)

• For students

• For teachers

Antigen notes

Blood types notes

Blood type notes (handwritten)

Roots of ABO system (A&B)

• Questions for students

• Questions for teachers

Blood typing notes

Blood typing CFU

Adaptive immunity consists of the humoral and cell mediated responses to antigens.

• Compare humoral to cell mediated immunity.

The lymphatic system

Intro to humoral vs cell mediated notes

The Body Bill Bryson (chapter 12)

Adaptive immunity is activated by T lymphocytes.

• Describe activation of helper T lymphocytes by the macrophage.

HIV causes AIDS by infecting helper-T cells.  

• Describe the consequences of HIV on the immune system.

• Outline the relationship between HIV and AIDS.

B lymphocytes are activated by T lymphocytes in mammals (11.1.U3).

Effects of HIV on the immune system and methods of transmission (6.3.A3).

Helper T-cells and activation of innate immunity notes

Diagram with annotations

Helper T cell model (example)

Activating Adaptive Immunity Check for Understanding 

• For students

• For teachers 

Thank your T-cells (A&B) 

HIV notes

Science Vs Podcast (≈9:20)

TPWKY HIV/AIDS (≈20:50)

Analyzing HIV Data

• CD4 counts

• Deaths

Antibodies are produced by B lymphocytes in response to a specific antigen.

• Define “specific immune response.”

• Contrast antigen and antibody.

• Explain the “challenge and response” mechanism of specific immunity.

• Describe clonal selection of plasma B cells.

• State the function of plasma and memory B cells.

Antibodies aid the destruction of pathogens 

• Describe the structure  of antibodies.

• Outline four modes of antibody action.

Production of antibodies by lymphocytes in response to particular pathogens gives specific immunity to diseases (6.3.U6).

Plasma cells secrete antibodies (11.1.U5).

Activated B cells multiply to form clones of plasma cells and memory cells (11.1.U4).

Antibodies aid the destruction of pathogens (11.1.U6).

B Cell Clonal Selection notes

Antibodies notes

Review slides (ICTD)

How do antibodies work video clip

B Cell model

Humoral immunity check for understanding

• For students

• For teachers

Antigen-Antibody lab

Immunity depends upon the persistence of memory cells.

• Define immunity.

• Compare natural vs artificial immunity.

• Explain the differences between the primary and secondary immune responses.

Memory vs Plasma B Cells

Memory B cells and second exposures

Got a Covid Booster? You Probably Won't Need Another for a Long Time (A&B)

• For students

• For teachers

Does exposure to cold and flu viruses weaken or strengthen the immune system?

Vaccines trigger immunity but do not cause the disease. 

• Explain the principle of vaccination.

Jenner is credited with development of the first vaccine.

• Outline  how Jenner tested his smallpox vaccine.

• List reasons when Jenner’s test would not be approved today.

Vaccination programs can reduce and eliminate infectious diseases from populations. 

• Define epidemiology. 

• Outline the role of an epidemiologist in vaccination programs.

• Describe the global initiative used to eradicate smallpox.

Vaccines contain antigens that trigger immunity but do not cause the disease (11.1.U10).

Smallpox was the first infectious disease of humans to have been eradicated by vaccination (11.1.A1).

Analysis of epidemiological data related to vaccination programmes (11.1.S1).

Consider ethical implications of research- Jenner tested his vaccine for smallpox in a child (11.1.NOS).

Natural vs artificial immunity notes

History of Vaccination

Impact of vaccinations notes

Vaccination Check for Understanding

• For students

• For teachers

Jen Gunter: How vaccines are developed -- and why they're safe | TED Talk 

Koala vaccination article 

Ethan Lindenberger: Why we need to fight misinformation about vaccines | TED Talk

How smallpox inoculation united America 

Hoping for a Covid Vaccine and Recalling the One for Smallpox - The New York Times 

Vaccine Hesitancy (A&B)

The Natural Experiment from 99%I (≈46:00)

Smallpox from Sawbones (≈22:00)

Science Diction Podcast

This Podcast Will Kill You 

• Inoculation (≈30:00)

• Vaccine first hand account (≈0:15)

• How vaccines work  (≈7:00)

• History of vaccinations (≈48:30)

• Wakefield vaccine conspiracy (≈48:40)

Vaccinated: One Man’s Quest to Defeat the World’s Deadliest Diseases.

• Chapter 3:  Eight Doors (smallpox)

• Chapter 8:  Blood (Hep B)

Logical fallacies and vaccines

Monoclonal antibodies are used in diagnosis and treatment of disease.

• Define “monoclonal antibody.”

• Explain the production of hybridoma cells.

• Describe the production of monoclonal antibodies in hybridoma cells.

• Outline the use of monoclonal antibodies in diagnosis and treatment.

• Describe a pregnancy test strip works, including the role of free and immobilized monoclonal antibodies.

Fusion of a tumour cell with an antibody-producing plasma cell creates a hybridoma cell (11.1.U11).

Monoclonal antibodies are produced by hybridoma cells (11.1.U12).

Monoclonal antibodies to HCG are used in pregnancy test kits  (11.1.A3).

Monoclonal antibodies notes

MCA in diagnosis test strips

Elisa Lab BioRad

Monoclonal Antibody review slides