Active and Passive Immunity

Question 1

what is the definition of passive immunity?

Answer 1

-when the individual receives antibodies from another source

Question 2

what is the definition of active immunity?

Answer 2

-when the individual achieves immunity through the production of antibodies through their own body

Question 3

what are the two ways in which passive immunity can occur?

Answer 3

-antibodies passing from mother to baby through the placenta or the colostrum
-antibodies are made and injected which are made by one person into another person

Question 4

why are antibodies passing from the mother to the baby very important?

Answer 4

-it is crucial as the baby’s immune system is still developing

Question 5

what type pf condition is the individual in who gives the antibodies up for donation during passive immunity?

Answer 5

-individuals who are recovering form illness ad they will have high levels of the required antibody in their blood

Question 6

what did the older method of harvesting antibodies entail? who were they harvested from?

Answer 6

-it involved immunising animals e.g. horses with weakened pathogens or toxins
-this caused the animal to produce the antibodies required
-serum from the animal was extracted and given to the individuals requiring immediate immunity

Question 7

what is serum?

Answer 7

-blood plasma with all the blood clotting substances removed

Question 8

what is the procedure called that has taken over from infecting animals with pathogens to produce antibodies?

Answer 8

-monoclonal antibody production

Question 9

what is the process of monoclonal antibody production?

Answer 9

-a specific antigen is injected into a mouse
-its short lived b lymphocytes are sensitised
-laboratory made cancer cells which are rapidly dividing fuse with the b lymphocytes to produce long lived lymphocytes
-these can then produce the needed antibodies in a fermenter over a long period of time

Question 10

what are the two advantages of monoclonal antibody production compared to obtaining antibodies from a horse?

Answer 10

-produces large amounts of antibodies in a lab
-can produce a single type of antibody, in a horse usually it is a range of antibodies produced which can be a problem due to allergies

Question 11

is passive immunity fast or slow and why?

Answer 11

-rapid
-the processes of b lymphocyte sensitisation and plasma cells production doesn’t need to happen

Question 12

why is the rapid immunity of passive immunity useful?

Answer 12

-very effective when someone is infected with a very harmful pathogen when it is likely that they have no defence to it e.g. snake bite or a new disease

Question 13

what are the 2 disadvantages of passive immunity?

Answer 13

-only temporary and over time the antibodies are broken down as they are non self
-the individuals immune system is not programmed to make more as they do not produce memory cells

Question 14

how can active immunity develop?

Answer 14

-through actually having the disease

Question 15

what is the basic principles of active immunity?

Answer 15

-individual becomes infected with pathogen but recovers due to primary response to the infection
-if reinfected by the same pathogen with the same antigens the secondary response would be so rapid and strong that the immune system will destroy the pathogen before the individual realises they are infected

Question 16

what is the main difference between primary and secondary response to infection and why?

Answer 16

-primary response is slower due to the time involved in activating the specific b lymphocytes and producing plasma cells, this means that the individual will have the disease symptoms for 4 or 5 days, but once in place the effect is long lasting
-secondary response is very strong and rapid due to the presence of memory cells that are already sensitsed to the specific pathogen

Question 17

apart from having the disease how else can active immunity occur?

Answer 17

-through vaccinations

Question 18

at what point in life is most vaccinations given and why?

Answer 18

-early childhood
-to stop individuals being infected by potentially common and harmful pathogens

Question 19

how do vaccinations work?

Answer 19

-they trick the immune system into thinking the body has been infected by a particular pathogen which causes primary immune response to be triggered so then the immune system can produce a secondary response if necessary

Question 20

what are two words to describe vaccinations?

Answer 20

-strong and fast

Question 21

what are the three things that vaccines may contain?

Answer 21

-killed or weakened pathogens (these contain the antigens to produce an immune response but dont cause the disease itself)
-modified toxins produced by the pathogen (for some pathogens it it their toxins that produce an immune response so they are modified so they arent as harmful nut still produce a response)
-isolated antigens that arent attached to a pathogen (made from genetic engineering)

Question 22

what may some vaccinations require over time?

Answer 22

-booster injections

Question 23

what are the sequence of events that lead to the requirement of a booster vaccination? (graph)

Answer 23

-body is exposed to antigen from vaccine
-initial delay in antibody levels increasing as the primary response can be slow
-after weeks/ years the antibody level in the blood decreases
-second exposure to the same antigen
-rapid increase in antibody level in the blood to a very high concentration
-antibody levels remain high for a longer time than in primary response

Question 24

is cell mediated immunity active immunity?

Answer 24

-yes

Question 25

what is the main benefit of vaccination programmes society? what is an example of this benefit?

Answer 25

-less sick people and the lives of many are extended
-child mortality rate has halved in the last few decades

Question 26

what can be one disadvantage to setting up a vaccination programme?

Answer 26

-they can be expensive

Question 27

what are 3 ways in which economies can benefit due to vaccination programmes?

Answer 27

-lower treatment costs to those who are ill
-productivity increases as people dont have to take time off work to care for the sick
-people who are sick dont have to take time off work

Question 28

what does the term herd immunity mean? what 3 categories of people are not likely to get vaccinated?

Answer 28

-it is the concept that is a high enough portion of the population are immune then lose who aren’t vaccinated are less likely to get sick as there are less likely to come into contact with someone who has the disease
-newborns, people who don’t believe in vaccines and the very ill

Question 29

when active immune is acquired through having the disease what is this known as?

Answer 29

-natural active immunity

Question 30

when active immune is acquired through vaccination what is this known as?

Answer 30

-artificial active immunity

Question 31

when passive immune is acquired through receiving antibodies from the mother what is this known as ?

Answer 31

-natural passive immunity

Question 32

when passive immune is acquired through receiving antibodies from an injection what is this known as?

Answer 32

-artificial passive immunity