Immunity Flashcards
Define natural immunity
Occurs without any human intervention.
Define artificial immunity
Results from giving people an antibody or antigen.
Define passive immunity
Immunity is produced by the introduction of antibodies from another person. The body plays no role in producing antibodies.
Define active immunity
The immunity is produced by the body manufacturing antibodies against a foreign antigen.
what are the types of vaccines
- Live attenuated vaccines
- Inactivated vaccines
- Toxoid vaccines
- Sub unit vaccines
what is a live attenuated vaccine
Are living microorganisms with reduced virulence. That is microorganisms with a reduced ability to produce disease symptoms.
What are Inactivated vaccines?
Contain dead microorganisms that provide short-lasting immunity.
What are Toxoid vaccines?
Contain inactivated toxins from bacteria called toxoids.
What are Subunit vaccines?
Instead of using whole dead or attenuated micro-organisms, Subunit vaccines use a fragment of the organism to provoke the immune response.
Define herd immunity.
Is a type of ‘group’ immunity that occurs when such a high proportion of people in a population are immunised that those who are not immune are protected, therefore protecting the whole population.
What are Antibiotic drugs?
Are used to fight bacteria. They cannot treat infections.
What are the types of antibiotics?
- Bacterial antibiotics
- Bacteriostatic antibiotic
What are bacterial antibiotics?
Kill bacteria by chance by changing the structure of the cell wall or membrane. Damage to the cell wall or membrane disrupts the action of essential enzymes.
What are bacteriostatic antibiotics?
Stop bacteria from reproducing by distrupting protein synthesis.
What are antiviral drugs?
They are used for treating viral infections. They are harder to develop. Because viruses invade the host cells, they not only kill the virus but also affect the host cell.
Define immunity.
Is the resistance to infection by invading micro organisms.
What type of immunity would be if antibodies enter the bloodstream across the placenta or in breast milk?
Natural passive immunity
What type of immunity would it be if antibodies are manufactured as a result of an attack of a disease?
Natural active immunity
What type of immunity would it be if antibodies are injected into the bloodstream?
Artificial passive immunity
What type of immunity would it be if antibodies are manufactured from being given an antigen by a vaccination?
Artificial active immunity
Explain why antibiotics cannot be used against viruses.
Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Viruses are not living. They reproduce inside other living organism cells and cannot be killed by a chemical antibiotic. Antibiotics work by destroying cell membranes or walls of bacteria, but cannot do this to virus
Why would identifying an antigen of a disease help organisations develop vaccines?
Vaccines work by introducing the body to a harmless version of the antigen, if you don’t know the antigen you cannot create a vaccine. Once identified vaccines can be made and given to many members – to reduce spread.
What effect would be giving a person that was previously infected with a disease give their blood to a person suffering from a disease?
Blood may still contain antibodies against the virus which will prevent the action of any viruses within the blood. This will give the infected person’s own immune system more time to develop its defences against the virus so they can recover.
