Immunity - Topic 2 Flashcards
What is a vaccine?
A mixture containing microbes that normally cause disease, but which have been treated so that they are harmless. It is injected in the body to make them immune to the disease
What is active immunity?
Immunity that develops when a person is exposed to a disease-causing microbe and produces their own antibodies to fight it. This can be through getting the disease or being injected with a vaccine which contains a dead or inactive version of the microbe.
What is passive immunity?
Immunity which is given to a person through vaccination with ready-made antibodies.
What is herd immunity?
Immunity that occurs when a larger portion of the population have been vaccinated against a disease. It prevents the spread of disease and therefore protects individual who have not developed immunity.
Describe the role of T-cells in immunity?
Protect you by destroying harmful pathogens and by sending signals that help control your immune system’s response to threats.