A tuberculin skin test involves injection of a purified TB(Mycobacterium tuberculosis) antigenic protein under the skin. Apositive skin test is a local swelling and redness at the siteafter 48 to 72 hours.
(a) What cell type is responsible for this reaction?
(b) Why do people who have been vaccinated with BCG (attenuatedbovine tuberculosis bacterium) sometimes have a positive skin testeven if they do not have active tuberculosis?
Rapamycin (sirolimus, Rapamune) is a common anti-rejection druggiven to organ transplant patients, usually for the rest of theirlives after transplant.
(a) What is the target of rapamycin on cells of the immunesystem and what cells are affected?
(b) Why does this effect cause immunosuppression?
(c) Why does the drug have to be given for the lifetime of thepatient?
Studies have been done on the use of anti-CD40 ligand antibodyruplizumab (trade name Antova) in the autoimmune disease systemiclupus erythematosis (SLE, Lupus). Lupus is characterized by B cellsmaking anti-DNA autoantibodies.
(a) According to the naming conventions, what does the name ofthis drug tell you about its structure? (b) What type of immunecells would it bind to?
(c) Why do you think that it was tried in the treatment oflupus?
