What would be the effect of a genetic defect that resulted in a lack of recombination between the switch regions in the immunoglobulin C-region genes?

What will be an ideal response?


The B cells in a person carrying such a defect would be unable to switch antibody isotype and would be unable to produce any antibody other than IgM. Because IgM antibodies can implement fewer effector functions than IgG antibodies, which constitute the main class of antibody produced in an adaptive immune response, one would expect that immunity would be impaired. In addition, no IgA antibodies could be produced, leaving the person highly vulnerable to infection through mucosal surfaces. There are, in fact, rare inherited genetic deficiencies that result in an inability to switch isotype. They are called hyper IgM immunodeficiencies because the patient is unable to produce any antibody other than IgM. The most frequent one affects the expression of a cell-surface molecule called CD40 ligand in T cells, which is required for the interaction between T cells and B cells that stimulates isotype switching, as we shall learn later in this book.

Health & Biomechanics

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Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

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The prefix that means same is ____________________

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Which of the following substances in tobacco smoke is most closely associated with oxygen deprivation to the heart?

A. hydrogen cyanide B. carbon monoxide C. nicotine D. tar

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What principle underlies the bio electrical impedance technique for assessing body composition? a. Fat tissue speeds up electrical current before the current encounters lean tissue. b. Fat tissue is a less efficient conductor of electrical current than is lean tissue. c. Fat tissue blocks electrical current

d. Lean tissue blocks electrical current. e. Fat tissue is a more efficient conductor of electrical current than is lean tissue.

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