Immune Therapies

Question 1

What is the fundamental way vaccines work?

Answer 1

induce adaptive immunity and immunological memory by exposing the body to microbial antigens without causing disease.

Question 2

What antibody appears higher in the secondary response?

Answer 2

IgG

Question 3

Primary response VS Secondary response

natural infection

Answer 3

Primary Response:
- Occurs upon first exposure to an antigen
- Low affinity, low specificity IgM antibodies produced first
- Requires T cell help

Secondary Response:
- Occurs upon re-exposure to the same antigen
- More rapid antibody production
- More effective, higher antibody levels
- High affinity, high specificity IgG produced rapidly by long-lived plasma cells

Question 4

What are the types of vaccine?

Answer 4

Live attenuated

Inactivated

Subunit (purified antigens)
Recombinant
Toxoid
Polysaccharide
Conjugate

Viral Vector

Question 5

How does the live attenuated vaccine work?

Answer 5

Contain live but weakened versions of the pathogen
Can replicate within host cells to induce strong, long-lasting immunity

potentially problematic in immunocompromised

Question 6

What antibody Is amplified with live attenuated vaccines?

Answer 6

IgG

Question 7

How do inactivated vaccines work?

Answer 7

Killed through chemical or physical processes
Cannot replicate or cause disease
Weak immunity
Several doses required

Question 8

How do subunit vaccines work?

What are the types

Answer 8

Contain only purified antigenic components, no whole organism

Recombinant (genetically engineered), toxoids, polysaccharides, conjugates

Cannot cause disease but may require adjuvants

Question 9

What is viral vector vaccine?

Answer 9

Use a harmless virus as a vector to deliver genetic material encoding the antigen
The viral vector expresses the antigen, stimulating an immune response

Question 10

What are adjuvants and what do they do?

Answer 10

Used with inactivated and subunit vaccines
Adjuvants like aluminum salts enhance and prolong the immune response to the vaccine antigens (Hep B)
They help maintain antigen stability, promote antigen presentation, and stimulate longer-lasting immunity

Question 11

What are the routes of vaccine administration?

Answer 11

Intramuscular
Subcutaneous
Intradermal
Intranasal
Oral

Question 12

What do cariogenic bacteria produce?

Answer 12

Bacterial aetiology

Cariogenic bacteria produce acids that demineralise tooth surfaces

Question 13

What are qualities of mutant strep that make it good for vaccination?

Answer 13

Extremely efficient at accumulating and producing carious surfaces
Extremely tolerant of low pH
Colonisation coincides with tooth eruption
Colonisation stimulates specific IgA and IgG

Question 14

What reduces global infectious diseases?

Answer 14

Vaccination strategies
Cleaner drinking water
Better nutrition
Better living standards

Question 15

What are examples of conventional immunosuppressive drugs?

Answer 15

Corticosteroids
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS)
Methotrexate (DMARDs)
Biological therapies

Question 16

What do corticosteroids do and how are they administered?

What are the side effects?

Answer 16

Corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone)

• Synthetic versions of cortisol hormone
• Non-specific anti-inflammatory effects
• Used for various inflammatory/allergic conditions
• Can be systemic or topical
• Side effects: weight gain, infection risk, diabetes, hypertension

Question 17

What do NSAIDs do and what are examples?

What are the risks?

Answer 17

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

• Drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin
• Reduce pain, inflammation, fever
• Risks with constant use: GI bleeding, liver/kidney issues
• Can interact with other medications

Question 18

What is methotrexate used for?

Answer 18

Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)

• Example: Methotrexate
• Used at low doses for inflammatory arthritis
• Used at high doses for cancer
• Multi-faceted anti-inflammatory effects
• Can be combined with biologics

Question 19

What are biological therapies and how do they work?

Answer 19

Targeted Biological Therapies: Genetically engineered antibodies

• Target specific components of the immune system
• Examples: B-cell inhibitors (rituximab), cytokine blockers (anti-TNF, anti-IL-1/6/17)
• Used for moderate-severe rheumatoid arthritis
• Slow disease progression
• Often combined with DMARDs like methotrexate

Question 20

What do elevated levels of cytokines in gingival tissues regulate in periodontal diseases?

Answer 20

Regulate immune-mediated bone destruction