1. Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false.

If you
think a statement is false, explain why:
a. Most antigens induce a response from more than one clone. True
b. A large protein antigen generally can combine with many different
antibody molecules. True
c. MHC genes play a major role in determining the degree of immune
responsiveness to an antigen. True
d. T-cell epitopes tend to be accessible amino acid residues that can
combine with the T-cell receptor. False...need antigen processing to
make them accessible...epitopes are often internal epitopes.
e. Many B-cell epitopes are nonsequential amino acids brought
together by the tertiary conformation of a protein antigen.
True...they could also be linear epitopes as well.
f. All antigens are also immunogens. False. A hapten is an antigen but
not an immunogen. Immunogenicity of an antigen depends on the
chemistry of the compound as to whether it will actually stimulate
an immune response. An antigen is an agent that could combine
with an Ab or TCR.
2. For each of the following statements, indicate whether it is true only of B-
cell epitopes (B), only of T-cell epitopes (T), or both types of epitopes (BT)
within a large antigen.
a. They almost always consist of a linear sequence of amino acid
residues. T
b. They generally are located in the interior of a protein antigen. T
c. They generally are located on the surface of a protein antigen. B
d. They lose their immunogenicity when a protein antigen is denatured
by heat. B
e. Immunodominant epitopes are determined in part by the MHC
molecules expressed by an individual. T
f. They generally arise from proteins. T
g. Multiple different epitopes may occur in the same antigen. BT
3. Indicate whether the following statements is true or false. If you think a
statement is false, explain why.
a. All Ig molecules on the surface of a given B cell have the same
idiotype. T
b. All Ig molecules on the surface of a given B cell have the same
isotype. F (IgM + IgD in nave B cells)
c. All myeloma protein molecules derived from a single myeloma clone
have the same idiotype and allotype. T
d. The hypervariable regions make significant contact with the
epitope. T
e. IgG functions more effectively than IgM in bacterial agglutination.
F...because it is pentameric, IgM can clump cells better.
f. All isotypes are normally found in each individual of a species. T
 g. The heavy-chain variable region (V ) is twice as long as the light-
H
chain variable region (V ). F..they are roughly the same size.
L
4. According to the clonal-selection theory, all of the Ig molecules on a single
B cell have the same antigenic specificity. Explain why the presence of
both IgM and IgD on the same B cell does not violate the unispecificity
implied by clonal selection. IgM and IgD, which are produced because of
differential mRNA processing results in both isotypes being expressed,
however, both will use the same VDJ genes to encode the antigen-
specificity.
5. Where are the CDR regions located on an antibody molecule and what are
their functions? The 3 CDR (hypervariable) regions are encoded for by the
VDJ genes and are located within the variable domains of both the Heavy
and light chain variable domains.
6. For each of the 5 isotypes (IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA, and IgE), indicate which
isotype(s) is/are associated with the following statements:
a. Secreted form is pentameric. IgM
b. Binds to Fc receptors on mast cells. IgE
c. Multimeric forms have a J chain. IgM and IgA
d. Present on the surface of mature, unprimed B cells. IgM and IgD
e. The most abundant isotype in serum. IgG
f. Major antibody in secretions such as saliva, tears, and breast milk.
IgA
g. The first serum antibody made in a primary immune response. IgM
h. Least abundant isotype in serum. IgE
7. Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. If you
think a statement is false, explain why:
a. V gene segments sometimes join to C gene segments. False.
b. With the exception of a switch to IgD, Ig class switching is mediated
by DNA rearrangements. True...and switching to IgD is not really a
class switching as defined in lecture.
c. Although each B cell carries two alleles encoding the Ig heavy and
light chains, only one allele is expressed. T
d. Primary transcripts are processed into functional mRNA by removal
of introns, capping, and addition of a poly-A tail. T
8. Explain why a V segment cannot join directly with a J segment in
H H
heavy-chain gene rearrangement. Why is this type of rearrangement
possible in light-chain gene rearrangement? Heavy chains have V-D-J
genes and because of the 12/23 bp rule, a VH cannot join to a JH. This can
occur in light chains because they only have V and J genes.
9. A B cell becomes immunocompetent:
a. following productive rearrangement of variable-region heavy- chain
gene segments in germ-line DNA.
 b. following productive rearrangement of variable-region heavy- chain
and light-chain gene segments in germ-line DNA. B is the correct
response.
c. following class switching.d. during affinity maturation.
d. following binding of Th cytokines to their receptors on the B cell.
10. The mechanism that permits immunoglobulins to be synthesized in
either a membrane-bound or secreted form is:
a. allelic exclusion.
b. codominant expression.
c. class switching.
d. the one-turn/two-turn joining rule
e. differential RNA processing. E is the correct response.
11. What mechanisms generate the three hypervariable regions (CDRs) of
Ig heavy and light chains? Why is the third hypervariable region (CDR3)
more variable than the other two (CDR1 and CDR2)? The 3 CDRs are
generated by the Ig gene rearrangements between the V-D-J genes. The
rd
3 CDR is more variable because this is where D and J join together and
this region codes for the part of the Ab that comes into the most contact
with the Ag. In addition, the diversity in this area is due to imprecise
joining, palindromic sequences (P nucleotides) and Tdt added N
nucleotides.
12. You have a B-cell lymphoma that has made nonproductive
rearrangements for both heavy-chain alleles. What is the arrangement of
its light-chain DNA? Why? No rearrangement. Without successful H-chain
going to the surface with the surrogate light chain (VpreB/5), no light
chain gene rearrangement.
13. Indicate whether each of the class switches indicated below can occur
(yes) or cannot occur (no)
a. IgM to IgD n
b. IgM to IgA y
c. IgE to IgG n
d. IgA to IgG n
e. IgM to IgG. Y
14. How many chances does a developing B cell have to generate a
functional Ig light chain gene? 4
15. At which level, DNA or RNA, are each of the following activities
determined?
a. Membrane versus secreted Ab RNA
b. IgM vs. IgD RNA
c. V-J joining DNA
d. IgA vs. IgE DNA
e. V-D-J joining DNA
16. Indicate whether each of the following statements concerning B-cell
maturation is true or false. If you think a statement is false, explain why:
 a. Heavy chain VH-DH-JH rearrangement begins in the pre-B-cell stage.
False (its pro-B cell..although I dont expect you to memorize those
stages)
b. Immature B cells express membrane IgM and IgD. False (Mature B
cell has both)
c. The enzyme Tdt is active in the pre-B-cell stage. False (only pro-B
cell during H chain rearrangement)
d. The surrogate light chain is expressed by pre-B cells. True
e. In order to develop into immature B cells, pre-B cells must interact
directly with bone marrow stromal cells. True. Once again, I expect
you know the importance of this process but not the exact stage
where it occurs.
f. Most of the B cells generated every day never leave the bone
marrow as mature B cells. True.
g. All of the antibodies secreted by a single plasma cell have the same
idiotype and isotype. True. Once at the plasma cell stage, no class
switching.
h. IgA is made against TI antigens. False. Need T cell help to get class
switching.
17. Describe the general structure of the BCR complex. Detail the general
function of each of the molecules you describe. See one of the many
figures shown in class.
18. Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. If
false, explain why:
a. A single molecule of bound IgM can activate the C1q component of
the classical complement pathway. True.
b. C3a and C3b are fragments of C3. True
c. The C4 and C2 complement components are present in the serum in
a functionally inactive proenzyme form. True.
19. Genetic deficiencies have been described in patients for most of the
complement components. Particularly severe consequences result from a
deficiency in C3. Describe the consequences of an absence of C3 for each
of the following:
a. Activation of the classical and alternate pathways. -activation of
classical can occur but the process gets stuck once at C3.
Activation of alternate cannot occur since need spontaneous
activation of C3.
b. Clearance of immune complexes. -would not likely occur since C3b
is a major player in the removal of immune complexes.
c. Phagocytosis of infectious bacteria. -would not likely occur since
C3b is a major player in opsonization.
d. Presentation of antigenic peptides from infectious bacteria. No
direct effect from a C3 defect, however, the process would be
indirectly affected because the phagocytic cells would not engulf
the bacteria as well and therefore, less presentation of antigen.
20. Summarize the four major functions of the complement system. Cell
lysis, opsonization, stimulate inflammation, removal of immune
complexes.
21. Complement activation can occur via different three pathways.
a. How do the three pathways differ in the substances that can initiate
activation? -look in notes for three ways.
b. Which portion of the overall activation sequence differs in the three
pathways? Which portion is similar? -same as above...details should
be easy to find in notes.
c. How do the biological consequences of complement activation via
these pathways differ? -all three have same biological
consequences.
22. Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. If
you think a statement is false, explain why.
a. A monoclonal antibody specific for 2-microglobulin can be used to
detect class I HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C molecules on the surface of
cells. True...all class I molecules use beta-2 microglobulin.
b. APCs express both class I and class II MHC molecules on their
membranes. True.
c. In outbred populations, an individual is more likely to be
histocompatible with one of its parents than with its siblings. False...
more likely compatible with siblings rather than parents.
d. Class II MHC molecules typically bind to longer peptides than do
class I MHC molecules. True (pita versus hotdog)
e. All cells express class I MHC molecules. False...most nucleated cells.
f. The majority of the peptides displayed by class I and class II
molecules are derived from self proteins. True. When looking at
most cells (because they are not infected, most of the peptides
expressed are actually self-peptides. Luckily, we do not have T cells
that can recognize these self peptides.
23. One of the characteristic features of the MHC is the large number of
different alleles at each locus. Where are most of the polymorphic amino
acid residues located in MHC molecules? What is the significance of this
location? In class I, the a1/a2 domain and in class II, the a1/b1 areas.
These are the locations that interact with the antigenic peptide.
24. Explain the difference between the terms antigen- presenting cell and
target cell, as they are commonly used in immunology. APC present Ag
w/ class II to Th cells; target cells present Ag w/ class I to CD8+ T cells
(CTLs)