Applied Immunology Flashcards
Naturally Acquired immunity:
ACTIVE?
Antigens enter the body naturally; body produces antibodies and specialized lymphocytes
Naturally Acquired immunity:
PASSIVE?
Antibodies pass from mother to fetus via placenta or to infant in the mother’s milk.
Artificially Acquired immunity:
ACTIVE?
Active: Antigens are introduced in vaccines; body produces antibodies and specialized lymphocytes
Artificially Acquired immunity:
PASSIVE?
Preformed antibodies in immune serum introduced into body by injection
Two artificial methods of immunity?
Active and passive immunization
Active immunization:
• Administration of antigens so patient actively mounts a protective immune response
Passive immunization:
• Individual acquires immunity through the transfer of antibodies formed by immune individual or animal
History of immunization:
– Chinese noticed children who recovered from smallpox did not contract the disease again
– They infected children with material from a smallpox scab to induce immunity
• This process known as variolation
– Variolation spread to England and America but was stopped because of risk of death
– 1796 – Edward Jenner discovered
cowpox was similar to smallpox
– 1879 – Louis Pasteur developed
a vaccine against Pasteurella multocida
Antibody transfer was developed when it
was discovered that vaccines protected through the action of antibodies
Pastuer’s research:
• Avian cholera (caused by bacteria not virus) was a common zoonotic disease
• Discovered attenuated pathogen accidentally
• Went on to make other vaccinations
Active immunization:
Vaccine types
Attenuated (live) vaccines (weakened)
– Use pathogens with reduced virulence
– Can result in mild infections
– Active microbes stimulate a strong immune response
– Can provide contact immunity
Active immunization:
Vaccine types
• Inactivated vaccines
– Whole-agent vaccines (safer, bacteria is dead)
- Subunit vaccines
Microbes don’t provide many
antigenic molecules to stimulate the immune response
– Often contain adjuvants (additives)
Active Immunization
– Vaccine types
• Toxoid vaccines
– Chemically or thermally modified toxins used to stimulate immunity
– Useful for some bacterial diseases
– Stimulate antibody-mediated immunity
– Require multiple doses because they possess few antigenic determinants (not strong enough=need boosters)
• Active Immunization
– Vaccine types
• Combination vaccines
-Administration of antigens from several pathogens • Vaccines using recombinant gene technology
– Attempts to make vaccines more effective, cheaper, safer
– Variety of techniques used to improve vaccines
• Active Immunization
– Vaccine safety
• Problems associated with immunization:
– Mild toxicity most common
– Risk of anaphylactic shock
– Residual virulence from attenuated viruses
– Allegations that certain vaccines cause autism, diabetes, and asthma
» Research has not substantiated these allegations
• Passive Immunotherapy
Administration of antiserum containing:
Preformed antibodies
Passive immunotherapy:
Immediate protection against
recent infection or ongoing disease