Antibodies and Vaccination

Question 1

Define antibodies

Answer 1

Protein with specific bonding site synthesised by B-cell

Question 2

Describe the structure of an Antibody

Answer 2

four polypeptide chains, heavy and light chains (pairs)
with disulphide bridges between them

each antibody has a specific binding site known as the variable region that forms the antigen-antibody complex

the rest of the antigen is known as the constant region with the receptor-binding site

Question 3

What do antibodies do?

Answer 3

prepare the antigen for destruction by
Agglutination ( easier for phagocyte identification)
Serve as markers to stimulate phagocyte engulfing

Question 4

Define monoclonal antibodies

Answer 4

antibody produces by a single clone of cells

Question 5

How does targeted medication works?

Answer 5

Attaching a therapeutic drug to an antibody

Question 6

What is direct monoclonal antibodies therapy?

What is it good?

Answer 6

monoclonal antibodies specific to cancer cells antigens attach themselves to cancer and block chemical of uncontrollable growth

Good because antibodies not toxic and highly specific so have fewer side effects

Question 7

What is indirect monoclonal antibodies therapy?

What is it good?

Answer 7

attaches radioactive/ cytotoxic drug to monoclonal antibodies it kills cancer cells when they attach to them

magic bullet can be used in small doses and it is cheaper and reduced side effects

Question 8

Why are monoclonal antibodies used in medical diagnosis?

Answer 8

more rapid results

eg. Pregnancy test and hCG in urine

Question 9

What are the ethical issues around the use of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 9

involved deliberately inducing cancer in mice
some associated death with use for multiple sclerosis, so much have informed consent
testing new drugs presents many dangers

Question 10

What are the two types of immunity?

Answer 10

Passive and active

Question 11

Describe Passive immunity

Answer 11

introduce antibodies from an outside source
antibodies not replaced when broken down
no memory cell formed
no long-lasting immunity

Question 12

Describe Active immunity

Answer 12

stimulating the production of antibodies by individuals own immune system
needed direct contact with pathogen/antigen
long-lasting

there are two types

Question 13

Define Vaccination

Answer 13

Vaccination is the introduction of a vaccine containing appropriate disease’s antigens into the body by injection or mouth to induce an artificial active immunity

Question 14

What are the two types of active immunity?

describe them

Answer 14

Natural=normal circumstances

Artifical= produce immune response with no suffering

Question 15

Define vaccine

Answer 15

material introduced that contains antigens

Question 16

How does a vaccine work

Answer 16

material introduced that contains antigens
these antigens stimulate a slight immune response
memory cells are produced

Question 17

What are the features of a successful vaccine program?

Answer 17

Vaccine must be economically available
few side effects
means of producing, storing and transporting must be available
means of administrating vaccine properly at the correct time
vaccinate vast majority to create herd immunity

Question 18

Define herd immunity

Why is herd immunity important?

Answer 18

when a sufficiently large proportion of the population has been vaccinated which makes it difficult for a pathogen to spread in that population

pathogen passed from person to person in close contact is less likely for a susceptible individual to contact an infected person. Susceptible include babies, old, compromised immune systems

Question 19

Why can vaccines fail?

Answer 19

fail to induce immunity
person develops disease before immunity levels can prevent it
pathogen may mutate frequently (antigenic variability)
there are many varieties of the same pathogen
pathogens hide in cells or ‘out of reach’
individual reject for religious, ethical or medical reasons

Question 20

What is antigenic variability?

Answer 20

pathogen mutates frequently

Question 21

What questions should be asked about the ethics of vaccination?

Answer 21

Can the side effects cause long term harm?
Oh whom and what trails should be carried out?
Is it acceptable for new vaccines to be trialled with unknown health risks?
Should a vac. be made compulsory?
Should people be able to opt-out and for what reasons?
Should expensive vac. programs continue when the disease is almost eradicated?
individual health risk from vac. must be balanced against the advantage of controlling a disease for the benefit fo the population

Question 22

Describe how giving this vaccine leads to production of antibody against HPV.

Answer 22

Vaccine/it contains antigen (from
HPV);

Displayed on antigen-presenting cells;

Specific helper T cell (detects antigen
and) stimulates specific B cell;

B cell divides/goes through
mitosis/forms clone to give plasma
cells;

B cell/plasma cell produces antibody;