Immunotherapy in the prevention and treatment of infection Flashcards
Define immunotherapy
Immune system can be manipulated in order to help fight or prevent infection
Define active immunisation/vaccination
Administration of antigen in order to induce active production of immunity and thus protection from disease.
What is meant or referred to by the ‘active immunity’ produced by vaccination?
T and B cell lymphocytes (Ag recognition) and their immunological memory.
What are the characteristics and advantages of active immunisation/vaccination?
Immunity is specific for antigen given
Immunological memory is induced (adaptive)
Immunity involves antibody and/or T cell responses
Systemic and/or mucosal immunity can be induced
What is a disadvantage of active immunisation/vaccination?
Protection is not immediate (days/weeks)
What is meant by adaptive immunity?
Immunity that arises from recognition of antigen, and induces immunological memory - bigger, faster response second time infection is seen.
What is meant by systemic immunity?
Activation of lymphocytes by antigen recognition in secondary lymphoid tissue i.e. liver and spleen.
How do B cells initiate immunity?
Recognise epitopes of antigen by the Ig/abs
How do T cells initiate immunity?
Recognise antigenic peptides/proteins which are presented to T-cell receptors by antigen presenting cells Peptides are associated with HLA proteins on the surface of APCs.
CD4 + helper T-cells associated with?
HLA Class 2 associated peptides
CD8+ cytotoxic t-cells associated with?
HLA class 2 antigen associated peptides
Define passive immunisation
Administration of pre-formed antibody in order to protect from disease.
Characteristics and advantages passive immunisation
Protection is immediate
Ab therapy which provides immunological protection for patients
Characteristics and disadvantages of passive immunisation
No immunological memory generated, not long lasting.
No immune response stimulated in recipient
What is a toxoid?
Inactivated form of toxin.
Toxoid is harmless version of toxin, but similar antigenic structure of toxin allows recognition by lymphocytes and generates immunological memory which will be active against the toxin itself.
Descrive the principle of vaccination with a toxoid vaccine?
Toxoid vaccination administered.
Primary ab response produced to toxoid antigen - B cells recognise antigen and produce mainly IgM antibodies.
Natural infection - B-cells recognise toxin quickly, reactivate and more cells available -> bigger and quicker response. After B-cell activation, class switching of IgM to IgG occurs and mainly IgG produced.§
Example of toxoid vaccine
Tetanus
What is a live attenuated vaccine?
Vaccine which contains organisms which are no longer able to induce disease, but still have antigenic features and structures of microbe.
Organisms multiply in host, mimicking natural infection , but causing no/mild symptoms.
Immune response mimics that generated by natural infection.
What is the immune response to a live attenuated vaccine?
IR mimics that generated by natural infection
Systemic/mucosal immunity
Long lasting memory
symptoms caused by live attenuated vaccine?
None or mild - flu like
Oedema/redness at injury site
How many doses required for live attenuated vaccine?
one
Risks of using live attenuated vaccine?
Potential for severe infection in immunodeficiency - opportunistic
Potential to revert to virulent strain - significant danger, safe guards and monitoring in place
Storage conditions crucial for stability
How do the storage temperatures of live attenuated vaccine affect stability?
Requires cool temperatures
Could effect shelf life
How is the virulence reduced for live attenuated organisms
Repeated culture in-vitro
Name some examples of live attenuated vaccines
MMR, BCG, oral polio (Sabin)
What is a killed vaccine?
Preparations of whole inactivated virus/bacteria. Do not multiply in the host.