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CAIE A Level Biology 9700

Immunity questions

Exam-style questions on Immunity, ordered from foundation to challenge. Pick one, write your answer the way you would in the exam, and it comes back marked against the mark scheme, point by point.

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Written by Markquill to follow the Cambridge International syllabus. Markquill is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International.

  1. Explain5 marksStandardA patient with kidney failure receives a kidney transplant from an unrelated donor. Despite careful tissue matching, the recipient's immune system eventually recognises the donated kidney as foreign and mounts an…
  2. Outline4 marksStandardOutline the sequence of events that occur during phagocytosis of a bacterial pathogen by a macrophage.
  3. Explain5 marksStandardA patient is infected with a newly discovered virus. Describe and explain the distinct roles of T-helper cells and T-killer cells during the primary immune response to this viral infection. Your answer should include…
  4. Compare5 marksStandardA person is exposed to a virus that they have never encountered before. Their immune system mounts a primary immune response. Compare the roles of T-helper lymphocytes and T-killer lymphocytes in this response.
  5. Compare5 marksStandardA patient is suspected of having a bacterial infection. A diagnostic test uses monoclonal antibodies specific to a bacterial surface protein to detect the pathogen in the patient's blood sample. The patient is then…
  6. Outline4 marksStandardA new vaccine has been developed against Pneumovirus X, a respiratory virus. The vaccine contains inactivated viral antigens. Following a course of injections, vaccinated individuals show strong protection against…
  7. Outline4 marksStandardA researcher is investigating a novel surface protein on a pathogenic bacterium. She wants to produce antibodies that specifically recognise this protein. Outline how the molecular structure of an antibody allows it to…
  8. Explain5 marksStandardA study compared the incidence of a infectious disease, 'Zythia', in two towns over one year. Town A had 95% of its population vaccinated against Zythia, while Town B had only 45% vaccinated. The number of confirmed…
  9. Compare5 marksStandardA person is infected with a novel influenza virus strain. They recover and are later exposed to the same strain several years later. Compare the primary and secondary immune responses to this pathogen, explaining the…
  10. Outline4 marksStandardThe table below shows the concentration of a specific antibody in the blood of a rabbit following first and second exposure to an antigen. Day after first exposure Antibody concentration (arbitrary units) 0 0 5 2 10 50…
  11. Compare5 marksStandardA researcher wants to produce antibodies that specifically bind to a single protein antigen. She uses the hybridoma method to produce monoclonal antibodies. Compare the properties and production of monoclonal…
  12. Compare5 marksStandardThe table below shows data from two regions (X and Y) that experienced an outbreak of the same infectious disease. Both regions have similar population sizes and initial exposure. Region Percentage of population…
  13. Describe4 marksStandardA patient is infected with a novel virus. The table below shows the concentration of specific antibodies against this virus in the patient's blood at various times after the first infection (primary response) and after…
  14. Compare5 marksStandardA pharmaceutical company has developed a new monoclonal antibody treatment against a respiratory virus. This treatment is produced using the hybridoma technique. Meanwhile, a person who recovers from infection with the…
  15. Describe4 marksStandardThe table below summarises four types of immunity. Immunity type How antibodies are obtained Duration of immunity Active natural Produced by the person's own immune system after infection Long-lasting (memory cells)…
  16. Describe4 marksStandardA bacterium enters the body through a small cut in the skin. A macrophage at the site begins to phagocytose the pathogen. Describe the sequence of events by which the macrophage engulfs and destroys the bacterium.
  17. Describe4 marksStandardA patient is infected with a novel strain of the bacterium Staphylococcus auresistans (a fictional pathogen). Describe the roles of B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes in the primary immune response to this infection…
  18. Describe4 marksStandardTable 1 shows four types of immunity. Type of immunity How it is acquired Example Active natural Active artificial Passive natural Passive artificial Describe how each type of immunity is acquired and give one example…
  19. Explain5 marksStandardA healthy individual receives a vaccination against a viral pathogen. Five years later, the individual is exposed to the same virus but does not become ill. Explain why the secondary immune response is faster and…
  20. Outline4 marksStandardThe table shows the concentration of antibodies in the blood of a person following a first exposure to a novel antigen on day 0 and a second exposure to the same antigen on day 20. Time (days) Antibody concentration…
  21. Compare5 marksStandardA patient is infected with a new strain of influenza A virus. This is the first time the patient has encountered this strain. Several years later, the patient is exposed to the same strain again. Compare the primary…
  22. Outline4 marksStandardA person is exposed to a new strain of influenza virus. Outline the roles of B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes during the primary immune response to this virus.
  23. Describe4 marksStandardA researcher is investigating the immune response to a newly discovered bacterium, Corynebacterium novum. The bacterium has a unique surface protein, antigen X. Antibodies produced against antigen X are able to…
  24. Explain5 marksStandardA biotechnology company is developing a diagnostic test for amoebic dysentery, caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. The test uses monoclonal antibodies that bind specifically to a surface protein antigen on…
  25. Explain5 marksStandardThe table below shows the percentage of children vaccinated against a viral disease and the number of reported cases in two regions of a country over one year. Region Vaccination coverage (%) Number of reported cases…
  26. Describe4 marksStandardA new vaccine has been developed against the rhinospike virus. It contains inactivated viral particles. Describe how this vaccine provides long-term immunity against future infection by the rhinospike virus.
  27. Explain5 marksStandardThe hybridoma method is used to produce monoclonal antibodies for use in diagnostic tests. Explain how monoclonal antibodies are produced using this method and how their molecular structure allows them to be used to…
  28. Describe4 marksStandardA person is infected with a pathogen for the first time. Describe the roles of macrophages, B-lymphocytes, T-helper cells and T-killer cells in the primary immune response to this pathogen.
  29. Explain5 marksStandardA biotechnology company aims to produce a monoclonal antibody that can specifically detect a toxin produced by a pathogenic bacterium in contaminated food samples. Explain how the hybridoma method can be used to…
  30. Outline4 marksStandardA student made the following statements about the four types of immunity: active natural, active artificial, passive natural, and passive artificial. However, some statements are incorrect. Complete the table below to…
  31. Explain5 marksStandardA patient is infected with a novel virus (Virus X) and recovers after 10 days. One year later, the same patient is re-infected with the same strain of Virus X. This time, the infection is cleared within 48 hours and…
  32. Explain5 marksStandardInfluenza viruses infect the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. During a primary infection with a new influenza strain, the body mounts an immune response. Explain the roles of different types of white blood…
  33. Describe5 marksChallengeA new respiratory virus has emerged. Blood samples from recovered patients contain antibodies that bind specifically to the virus's surface spike protein. Using your knowledge of antibody structure and the hybridoma…
  34. Outline6 marksChallengeOutline how a vaccine containing inactivated bacterial toxins (toxoids) provides long-term immunity against the pathogen. In your answer, refer to the molecular structure of antibodies, the production of monoclonal…
  35. Compare7 marksChallengeTable 1 shows the percentage of the population vaccinated and the number of reported cases per 100 000 people in two regions during an outbreak of disease Y. Region Percentage of population vaccinated Number of…
  36. Describe7 marksChallengeDescribe the sequence of events that occur during a primary immune response to a bacterial infection entering through a wound. In your description, explain the roles of phagocytes (macrophages and neutrophils)…
  37. Describe5 marksChallengeDescribe the sequence of events that occur when a macrophage or neutrophil phagocytoses a pathogen. In your answer, include the roles of receptors, lysosomes, and the eventual fate of the pathogen.
  38. Explain5 marksChallengeA patient receives a vaccine containing inactivated viral particles. Several years later, the patient is exposed to the live, wild-type virus but does not develop any symptoms. Explain why the secondary immune response…
  39. Explain6 marksChallengeA patient receives a kidney transplant from an unrelated donor. The transplanted kidney carries cell surface antigens that are different from the patient's own antigens. Explain how the immune system distinguishes…
  40. Describe5 marksChallengeA researcher aims to produce monoclonal antibodies against a surface protein on a newly emerged virus. (a) Describe how the structure of antibodies enables them to bind specifically to the viral antigen. (b) Describe…
  41. Compare7 marksChallengeThe table below shows data from two regions for a particular infectious disease over one year. Region Percentage of population vaccinated Number of reported cases per 100,000 people Region X 92% 12 Region Y 58% 450…
  42. Compare6 marksChallengeA patient receives a kidney transplant from an unrelated donor. The donated kidney expresses proteins (antigens) that are different from the patient's own proteins. The patient's immune system has not encountered these…
  43. Outline7 marksChallengeA 30-year-old woman is infected with a previously unencountered strain of Streptococcus bacteria. Outline the sequence of events that occur during the primary immune response against this bacterium. In your answer, you…
  44. Compare7 marksChallengeDuring a primary immune response to a viral infection, T-helper cells and T-killer cells perform distinct but coordinated roles. Compare the roles of T-helper cells and T-killer cells in this response.
  45. Describe7 marksChallengeA toxin-producing bacterium, Clostridium tetani, causes tetanus. Three individuals are exposed to the tetanus toxin: Individual A receives an injection of antitoxin (antibodies against the toxin). Individual B is…
  46. Compare5 marksChallengeA person is infected with a novel strain of influenza virus (antigen A). After recovery, several months later, the person is exposed to the same strain again. Compare the immune response during the first infection…
  47. Explain6 marksChallengeA patient receives a skin graft from an unrelated donor. The graft is rejected after 10 days. Six months later, the patient receives a second skin graft from the same donor, which is rejected after 3 days. Explain how…
  48. Outline5 marksChallengeA patient is infected with a bacterial pathogen. Outline the sequence of events that occur when a macrophage encounters and responds to this pathogen, including the destruction of the bacterium and how the macrophage…
  49. Compare5 marksChallengeA research team develops a monoclonal antibody (MAb) that binds specifically to a surface protein of a novel influenza virus. They plan to use this MAb in two ways: As a diagnostic reagent to detect the virus in…
  50. Compare7 marksChallengeA novel virus, Pneumoviridae X, infects epithelial cells of the human respiratory tract. During the primary immune response to this virus, both T-helper and T-killer cells become activated. Compare the roles of…
  51. Describe6 marksChallengeA rabbit was injected with a harmless antigen (ovalbumin) on day 0 and a second injection of the same antigen on day 60. Antibody concentration in the blood was measured at various time points. The results are shown in…
  52. Outline6 marksChallengeA new vaccine against Lymphovirus has been developed. It contains purified glycoprotein antigens from the viral surface. Outline how this vaccine provides long-term immunity. In your answer, refer to the molecular…
  53. Describe5 marksChallengeDescribe the process of phagocytosis in a macrophage, from the initial recognition of a bacterial pathogen to its destruction.
  54. Compare6 marksChallengeA researcher aims to produce a monoclonal antibody against a specific antigen (protein X) from a bacterial pathogen. She immunizes a mouse with protein X, then removes the spleen and fuses the B lymphocytes with…
  55. Outline6 marksChallengeThe table below shows the relative antibody concentration in the blood of a human volunteer following an initial injection (day 0) with a harmless novel antigen (antigen X), and a second injection (day 28) with the…
  56. Outline7 marksChallengeA patient is bitten by a venomous snake and is immediately given an injection of antivenom, which contains antibodies that neutralise the venom. Several months later, the same patient receives a vaccine against…
  57. Explain6 marksChallengeA new pathogen, Neocella, has caused an outbreak of a severe respiratory disease. Scientists are exploring two strategies to combat the infection: Strategy A: Production of a monoclonal antibody that binds to a surface…
  58. Explain5 marksChallengeScientists have produced a monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to a surface antigen of the bacterium Haemophilus xyloosus, which causes a respiratory disease. Explain how this monoclonal antibody was produced…
  59. Outline5 marksChallengeMalaria is caused by Plasmodium species. A researcher aims to develop a rapid diagnostic test that uses monoclonal antibodies to detect a Plasmodium antigen in blood samples from infected patients. (a) Outline how the…