Introduction to Vaccinations

Question 1

Passive Immunization

Answer 1

Gaining preformed antibodies from someone else. Intanst action but short duration.

• Naturally acquired: antibodies from placenta and breast milk
• Artificially acquired: transfered antibodies from a person or animal

Question 2

Active Immunization

Answer 2

Host makes their own antibodies against pathogen. Takes time to take effect but lasts for a very long time.

• Naturally acquired: Host is infected and gains immunity
• Artificially acquired: Vaccination provides immunity

Question 3

Live Attenuated Vaccination

Answer 3

• Weakened pathogen - does not cause disease in individuals with healthy immune system
• Only requires one vaccination
• Can cause disease in immunocompromised host

Question 4

Inactivated/Killed Virus Vaccines

Answer 4

• Inactivated pathogen
• Multiple doses (booster shots) may be needed

Question 5

Subunit Vaccine

Answer 5

• Uses only part of the pathogen (usually the peptide)

Question 6

Conjugate Vaccine

Answer 6

• Prevents infection via encapsulate organisms that are thickly coated in a polysaccharide (weak antigen)
• Weak antigen on the bacterium is combined with a strong antigen to boost the immune response

Question 7

RNA Vaccine

Answer 7

• RNA is translated to antigen in the body for the immune system to form a response to with adaptive immunity
• Booster shots seem to be necessary

Question 8

DNA Vaccine

Answer 8

• Inject DNA for the antigen, cells then make the antigen and the immune system forms adaptive immunity against that antigen

Question 9

Adjuvant

Answer 9

• Substance that non-specifically activates the immune system
• Added to vaccines to enhance the immune response

Question 10

Mechanisms of vaccine-induced protection

Answer 10

• Vaccine antigen is captured by APC (dendritic cells) and peptide antigens are processed/presented by MHC
• APC with Ag go to lymph nodes
• CD4+ T-Cells are activated
• Differentiation of Helper T-Cells and B-Cells then fight infection

Question 11

Immunologic Memory

Answer 11

• Provided by memory cells which are more easily activated
• Memory T-cells do not require B7-CD28 costimulation
• Memory B cells express higher levels of MHC-II