Childhood Infection and Vaccination Flashcards
Why is it important that the womb is an ‘immunosuppressive environment’ during pregnancy?
Because the mother needs to ignore foetal alloantigens as half of the antigens are of paternal origin
There. is an initial prevalence of what type of cytokines in early pregnancy?
TH2 cytokines
There is a progressive shift toward predominance of what type of cytokines in late gestation?
TH1 cytokines
How can a mother transfer protection to the baby?
Immunoglobulin (mainly. IgG)
Breast feeding
How can antibody. mediated or cell mediated components of immunity be acquired by a child?
Natural disease
Vaccination
What. can vaccines be made. from?
Inactivated. or attenuated liver organisms
Secreted products
Recombinant components
Constituents of cell walls
Commonly, how many vaccine injections are required to elicit a response in a. young infant?
2 or. more
Some inactivated vaccines contain adjuvants. What are adjuvants?
Substances which enhance the antibody response
Give examples of inactivated vaccines?
WC Pertussis
IPV
Tetanus
Diptheria
Why is protection from conjugate vaccines not long lasting and the response in infants/young children poor?
Plain polysaccharide antigens do not stimulate the immune system as broadly. as protein antigens do.
How. can polyscahhride vaccines be enhanced?
By conjugation of the. polysaccharide antigen with a protein carrier to improve immunological memory
Give examples of live attenuated vaccines?
MMR
VZZV
Intranasal influenza
What type of vaccine cannot be given to immunocompromised individuals?
Live attenuated vaccines
What is required of a live attenuated vaccine to produce an immune response?
Live organism must replicate in the vaccinated individual over a period of time
Explain the concept of herd immunity.
Herd immunity is the concept that unvaccinated individuals are protected by vaccinated. individuals in that vaccinated. individuals. are. less likely to be. a source of infection. Herd. immunity interrupts the cycle of infection and reservoirs
