23. Immunoprophylaxis and Immunotherapy

Question 1

What is the difference between an inactivated organism and an attenuated organism?

Answer 1

• both are whole organisms
  Attenuated = alive, but weakened
  Inactivated = intact, killed

Question 2

Explain what a recombinant antigen is, and provide an example of a vaccine that is composed of this type of antigen.

Answer 2

• protein produced by genetically modified nonpathogenic bacteria, yeast, or other cells (plasmid)
• cannot be used to produce antigens other than proteins
• ex: Hep B, L1 protein from HPV

Question 3

What is a toxoid?

Answer 3

• a bacterial toxin that has been chemically inactivated so that they are not pathogenic
• ex: diphtheria, tetanus

Question 4

What form of antigen preparation is used in the vaccine for tetanus?

Answer 4

• toxoid (subunit vaccine)
• specific human serum globulins (passive immunity)
• animal globulins (passive immunity)

Question 5

What form of antigen preparation is used in the vaccine for pertussis?

Answer 5

• purified proteins (subunit)

Question 6

What form of antigen preparation is used in the vaccine for polio?

Answer 6

• Attenuated vaccine

- Inactivated vaccine [intramuscular]

Question 7

What form of antigen preparation is used in the vaccine for measles?

Answer 7

• Attenuated vaccine

Question 8

What form of antigen preparation is used in the vaccine for hepatitis B?

Answer 8

• Recombinant protein (subunit)

- specific human serum globulins (passive immunity)

Question 9

What form of antigen preparation is used in the vaccine for cervical cancer?

Answer 9

• Recombinant protein (subunit)

Question 10

Describe two ways in which passive immunity can be transferred from mother to fetus or infant.

Answer 10

• IgG via placenta

- IgA via breast milk

Question 11

What would the advantage of receiving the tetanus vaccine be over receiving horse anti-tetanus toxin?

Answer 11

• the tetnus vaccine creates active immunity which is more likely to be long-lasting
• the anti-tetanus toxin creates passive immunity which is short-lived and can induce type 1 or 3 hypersensitivity

Question 12

What would the advantage of receiving the horse anti-tetanus toxin be over receiving the tetanus vaccine?

Answer 12

• the horse anti-tetanus toxin would be better if someone is at risk for getting the disease but has not yet had the tetnus vaccine because it provides immediate immunity
• the vaccine takes time to build the immunity

Question 13

What does standard human serum immunoglobulin consist of, and how is it used clinically? What type of immunity does this provide?

Answer 13

• enriched Ig prep made from pooled serum of several 1000 donors
• contains antibodies to numerous Ags
• passive immunity
• prophylactic treatment for patients with deficiencies in antibody production

Question 14

Injection of LAK cells into a cancer patient would be an example of what type of immunity?

Answer 14

• adoptive immunity