Immunity, vaccinations, and antibodies in medicine

Question 1

What is active natural immunity?

Answer 1

acquired after natural exposure to a pathogen- ie- getting a chest infection

Question 2

What is active artificial immunity?

Answer 2

acquired after immunisation with a vaccine

Question 3

What is passive natural immunity?

Answer 3

acquired following transfer of antibodies from mother to baby through placenta or breast milk

Question 4

What is passive artificial immunity?

Answer 4

acquired after injection with antibodies

Question 5

In general, what is the 2 differences between active and passive immunity?

Answer 5

a- individuals make their own antibodies
p- individuals get given antibodies that are already made

a- long term immunity as memory cells are produced
p- short term immunity as memory cells are not produced

Question 6

What is a vaccine?

Answer 6

contains an attenuated version of the pathogen to stimulate the production of antibodies without causing illness, can be given via injection or taken orally

Question 7

What is vaccination?

Answer 7

the process of administering a vaccine to somebody

Question 8

Why may vaccination not eliminate a disease?

Answer 8

-it failed to provide immunity in certain individuals- eg if they have a defective immune system
-the pathogen could mutate frequently- antigenic variability
-certain pathogens can ‘hide’ in places out of reach such as the cholera pathogen in the small intestine
-some people are concerned about the safety of vaccines and choose not to get them

Question 9

Explain the role of macrophages in stimulating B lymphocytes

Answer 9

antigen presentation on the cell surface membrane that stimulates mitosis

Question 10

Why do maternal antibodies only provide short term immunity?

Answer 10

the maternal antibodies are non-self antigens so are destroyed by the foetal immune system