11.8 Controlling Infections

Question 1

Give five aspects of control measures to interfere with virus transmission population-wide

Answer 1

1. Which species are susceptible?
2. Where are they distributed?
3. Surveillance system
4. Public education
5. Vector control mechanisms

Question 2

List four strategies for mosquito control (as a vector removal)

Answer 2

• Mosquito nets
• Fumigation
• Prevention of breeding sites
• Sterilisation of population

Question 3

Do vaccinations prevent exposure to viruses on an individual level?

Answer 3

• No
• Instead, they allow the body to mount a more rapid secondary immune response upon encountering the antigen

Question 4

What is the aim of vaccination at an individual level?

Answer 4

Prime the immune response for rapid secondary response

Question 5

What is the aim of vaccination at a community level? What is the relationship between community protection and vaccination rate?

Answer 5

• Induce ‘herd immunity’
• Decrease transmission
• Higher vaccination rates lead to higher levels of immunity in the population

Question 6

Which phases of a virus life cycle can antibodies prevent?

Answer 6

• Aggregation
• Receptor attachment
• Endocytosis
• Uncoating of viral proteins

Question 7

Which proteins does an antibody need to bind to to prevent viral attachment to cells? What is this in influenza?

Answer 7

• Need to target protein that binds to cell receptors
• In the case of influenza, this is the HA protein

Question 8

How do you minimise the effect of mutations on vaccine efficacy?

Answer 8

Make sure the vaccine elicits a good T cell response