vaccine and immune therapies Flashcards
What are the definitions for antiseptic and disinfectants (2)
both used to kill microorganisms
antiseptics applied to living tissue = skin or mucous membranes
disinfectants = chemical agents = destroy microorganisms on inanimate objects
The 3 mechanism by which antiseptics work and if it is bacteriocidal or bacteriostatic
- denature of proteins
- disruption of cell membranes
- oxidation of cellular components
Bacteriocidal = KILL microorganisms
bacteriostatic agents = INHIBIT their growth.
c. Solutions ad if it kills certain bacteria ( yes/ no question) (3)
i. Chlorhexidine, alcohol, hypochlorite
ii. S.aureus, hep c, Candida albicans
Chlorhexidine and alcohol are effective against S.aureus and Candida albicans, but not effective against Hepatitis C virus.
Hypochlorite (bleach) is effective against all three microorganisms
Type of antibiotics for inhibiting protein synthesis, rna synthesis and wall synthesis
- Antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis:
Aminoglycosides (e.g. streptomycin, gentamicin)
Macrolides (e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin)
Tetracyclines (e.g. doxycycline, minocycline)
Chloramphenicol - Antibiotics that inhibit RNA synthesis:
Rifamycins (e.g. rifampin) - Antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis:
Beta-lactams (e.g. penicillins, cephalosporins)
Glycopeptides (e.g. vancomycin)
Lipopeptides (e.g. daptomycin)
Fosfomycin
by what mechanisms does antibiotic resistance occur
mutation = random mutations that guarantee survival
horizontal gene transfer = transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to anothets.
enzymatic inactivation = some bacteria produce enzymes that can inactivate antibiotics, rendering them ineffective.
efflux pumps = bacteria can have efflux pumps that pump out antibiotics from the cell before they can reach their targets, reducing the concentration of the antibiotic and making it less effective.
modification of target site = some bacteria can modify the target site of antibiotics, preventing them from binding and inhibiting their target.
Immune therapies are used to manipulate our immune responses for therapeutic benefit and are an increasingly important component of modern medicine. Vaccination aims to promote protective immune responses.
What is the primary aim of vaccination?
primary aim to induce immunity in healthy individuals to prevent infectious disease
Different types of vaccine expose our immune system to microbial antigens in different ways. Live attenuated vaccines best reproduce immunity to natural infection. Explain how this occurs?
contain weakened form of pathogen that can replicate and cause an immune response but unable to cause the disease
this immune response includes the production of specific antibodies that recognize and bind to the pathogen, as well as the activation of T cells that can destroy infected cells and help coordinate the immune response. Importantly, live attenuated vaccines mimic natural infections and therefore provide a broad and robust immune response that can protect against future infections by the same pathogen.
Some vaccines require co-administration with adjuvants, such as aluminium or calcium salts. What is the function of an adjuvant?
adjuvants stimulate the innate immune system (first line of defence), which in turn enhances the adaptive immune response to the vaccine antigen
maintain and prolong ANTIGEN STABILITY AND PRESENTATION
helps to form GRANULOMA
Identify one type of vaccine that requires co-administration with an adjuvant
HPV VACCINE
HPV VLPs alone are not very immunogenic, so an aluminum-containing adjuvant called AS04 is added to the vaccine to enhance the immune response.
Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis share a similar immunopathogenesis. Both diseases are associated with inflammatory mediated bone destruction.
Biological therapies, ‘biologics’, are genetically engineered monoclonal antibodies used to target and block the activity of specific components of inflammatory pathways. For example, Infliximab and Etanercept target and bind the cytokine TNFα and its receptor, respectively.
Research evidence indicates that periodontitis is more common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with the general population.
F. Discuss the potential advantages and limitations of the effect of targeted biological therapies on the periodontal health of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Targeted biological therapies have been shown to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by reducing inflammation and preventing joint damage. However, their potential impact on periodontal health in RA patients is still a matter of debate. Here are some potential advantages and limitations of the effect of targeted biological therapies on the periodontal health of patients with RA:
Advantages:
Reduction of inflammation: The primary mechanism of action of biologics is to reduce inflammation by blocking specific inflammatory mediators. This could potentially benefit periodontal health in RA patients since periodontitis is an inflammatory disease.
Prevention of bone loss: Biologics may prevent bone loss in both RA and periodontitis by inhibiting osteoclast activation, which is responsible for bone resorption.
Improved oral hygiene: RA patients who are prescribed biologics may be more likely to adhere to regular dental check-ups and improved oral hygiene practices, which could lead to better periodontal health.
Limitations:
Risk of infection: Biologics can increase the risk of infection, including oral infections such as periodontitis, by suppressing the immune system. Therefore, careful monitoring of patients for signs of oral infection is necessary.
Interaction with other medications: Biologics may interact with other medications that are commonly used in periodontal treatment, such as antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This could potentially lead to adverse effects and requires close monitoring.
Cost: Biologics are expensive and may not be accessible to all patients. Therefore, access to this type of therapy may be limited for some RA patients with periodontitis.
Provide examples of two non-specific conventional immunosuppressive therapies and describe their immunosuppressive action
Two examples of non-specific conventional immunosuppressive therapies are glucocorticoids (e.g. prednisone) and cytotoxic drugs (e.g. methotrexate).
Glucocorticoids work by inhibiting the production of various cytokines, which are signaling molecules that promote inflammation and immune activation. Glucocorticoids also inhibit the activation and proliferation of T cells and B cells, which are important components of the immune system.
Methotrexate works by inhibiting the synthesis of DNA, which is necessary for cell division and proliferation. This leads to the death of rapidly dividing immune cells, which reduces inflammation and immune activation.
