Vaccination Flashcards
List 2 characteristics of the specific antibodies produced by vaccination.
1 - High affinity.
2 - Class switched.
List the types of antibodies that are produced in response to infection in an unimmunised primary response.
List the antibodies in order of abundance.
1 - IgM.
2 - IgG.
What type of antibodies are produced in response to infection in an immunised secondary response?
1 - IgG.
2 - IgA.
When are the IgG and IgM antibodies present in the body?
- IgM is present 3-7 days after symptoms first appear and disappears with symptoms.
- IgG is present a few days after IgM first appears and remains in the body for the rest of life.
List 5 features of an ideal vaccine.
1 - The vaccine must not cause illness or death.
2 - The vaccine must be highly effective.
3 - The protection of the vaccine must last several years.
4 - The vaccine must induce a neutralising antibody.
5 - The vaccine must be practical, considering cost, stability, administrability and side effects.
What is the difference between passive and active immunity?
- Active immunity involves exposing the body to an antigen or whole microorganism to generate an adaptive immune response.
- Passive immunity is provided when a person is given antibodies to a disease rather than producing them through their own immune system.
List 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage for passive immunity.
Advantages:
1 - No 2 week lag generating a germinal centre, so protection is immediate.
Disadvantage:
1 - Short-lasting.
List 3 diseases for which passive immunity can be given by administering human serum.
1 - Rabies.
2 - Rhesus D.
3 - VZV.
Give an example of a disease for which passive immunity can be given by administering animal serum.
Tetanus.
Give an example of a monoclonal antibody that is administered to provide passive immunity.
For which disease does this antibody protect against?
- Davizulimab (anti-RSV).
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
List 3 encapsulated bacteria.
1 - Pneumococcus.
2 - Meningococcus.
3 - Haemophilus influenzae b.
List 4 diseases that are common with immature immune systems.
What is common between the microorganisms that cause these diseases?
1 - Pneumonia.
2 - Bacteraemia.
3 - Meningitis.
4 - Otitis media.
- The microorganisms that cause these diseases are all encapsulated bacteria.
Why are bacteria that are encapsulated poorly immunogenic?
Because they induce a T-independent response, which are slower, produce less high affinity maturation and don’t result in memory production.
What is the main burden of disease in children under the age of 2?
They have a poor T independent response, so they are particularly vulnerable to diseases such as those caused by encapsulated bacteria.
How can vaccines against diseases cause a T-dependent response to an antigen where the body would normally respond with a T-independent response?
How does this work?
- By conjugating a polysaccharide to the antigen:
- The vaccine is internalised by an antigen-presenting cell.
- The antigen-presenting cell presents the vaccine to a CD4+ T helper cell via MHC class II.
- The T cell recognises the protein and conjugated polysaccharide and helps educate vaccine-specific B cells to produce antibodies.
