C3.2 - vaccination (3r)

Question 1

what is vaccination used for?

Answer 1

vaccination is used to stimulate the development of immunity to a specific pathogen, by acting as the organisms’ first exposure, without causing the disease

Question 2

what would be found in a vaccine?

Answer 2

• vaccines contain antigens or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) with sequences that code for antigens
• in traditional vaccines, the antigens are supplies as a dead or weakened form of the pathogens

Question 3

what could be the impacts of publishing research on a vaccine, while the vaccine evaluation is only?

Answer 3

• scientists publish their research so that other scientists can evaluate it
• the media often report on the research while evaluation is still happening, and consumers need to be aware of this
• vaccines are tested rigorously and the risks of side effects are minimal but not nil
• the distinction between pragmatic truths and certainty is poorly understood

Question 4

when is a percentage change used in a calculation?

Answer 4

percentage change is used when determining the change in a value over time
- increases have a positive value, while decreases have negative value

Question 5

when is a percentage difference using in a calculation?

Answer 5

percentage difference is used when making a comparison between two separate objects or groups, measured at the same time

Question 6

what is the difference between vaccination and immunization?

Answer 6

vaccination - application of antigenetic materials
immunization - the process of gaining the appropriate antibodies/memory cells against a specific pathogen

Question 7

how do vaccines stimulate the development of immunity without causing a disease?

Answer 7

1. vaccination causes antibody production
2. memory cells are produced, allowing a faster and larger immune response upon infection with the pathogen (than without vaccination)
3. a second vaccination, called a booster shot, which stimulates the memory cells, increasing the antibody level further

Question 8

what are zoonoses?

Answer 8

zoonoses are infectious diseases that can transfer from other species to humans, which can have varied modes of infection

Question 9

what are the modes of infection?

Answer 9

• tuberculosis = transmitted by cattle and can cause lung issues
• japanese encephalitis = transmitted by a mosquito bite from a pig or bird and causes comas
• rabies = transmitted by mammals and causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
• COVID 19 = transmitted by bats and can cause respiratory issues

Question 10

what is the role of antibody production with regards to vaccinations?

Answer 10

1. vaccine is ingested into the body containing weakened versions of pathogens
2. each antibody corresponds to a specific antigen
3. macrophages engulf the pathogen
4. T-lymphocytes are activated by antigen binding and activate B lymphocytes
5. B lymphocytes divide by mitosis to form clones of plasma cells which secrete antibodies
6. B lymphocytes are made into memory cells
7. booster shots stimulate memory cells which produce more antibodies in a faster response

Question 11

what is the process of immunization?

Answer 11

1. vaccine is injected into the body containing weakened fragments of a pathogen
2. antibodies are made in response to the antigen as well as memory cells
3. immunity is due to the presence of appropriate antibodies
4. immunization lasts for a long period of time and a booster shot may be needed.

Question 12

what are the 2 types of immunity?

Answer 12

active immunity - body makes the antibodies itself

natural immunity - exposure to the pathogen

Question 13

how does herd immunity prevent epidemics?

Answer 13

• members of a population are interdependent in building herd immunity
• if a sufficient percentage of a population is immune to a disease, transmission is greatly impeded