Chapter 18

Question 1

How are monoclonal antibodies different from what is produced in the human body?

Answer 1

• Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) come from a single hybridoma clone, a combination of an “immortal” cancerous B cell and an antibody-producing normal B cell.
• In contrast, the human body produces polyclonal antibodies, which are a mix of different antibodies produced by various B cells.

Question 2

How are monoclonal antibodies formed?

Answer 2

Monoclonal antibodies are formed by creating hybridomas, which are a fusion of cancerous B cells and normal B cells. These hybridomas can produce a specific antibody indefinitely.

Question 3

What is molecular mimicry? How does this phenomenon make working with antibodies difficult?

Answer 3

• Molecular mimicry occurs when two different antigens share a common epitope, leading to antibodies binding to both antigens.
• This phenomenon can make working with antibodies difficult as it may cause unexpected immune reactions, and designing strategies for treatment and prevention of autoimmune disorders becomes challenging.

Question 4

What is seroconversion?

Answer 4

Seroconversion is the time period during which a specific antibody develops and becomes detectable in the blood. It is often associated with the development of immunity to a particular disease.

Question 5

What is a titer?

Answer 5

A titer is the concentration of serum antibody in the blood. A higher serum antibody titer indicates greater immunity to a disease.

Question 6

What does the abbreviation ELISA stand for?

Answer 6

ELISA stands for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

Question 7

What are the two basic types of ELISAs?

Answer 7

1. Direct ELISA, which detects antigens.
2. Indirect ELISA, which detects antibodies.

Question 8

You should know in general why we give a vaccine and the importance of them.

Answer 8

Vaccines are given to induce immunity and prevent specific diseases. They are crucial for disease control, preventing targeted diseases from occurring, and achieving herd immunity

Question 9

What are the different types of vaccines and give an example of each type.

4 types

Answer 9

1. Live Attenuated Vaccines (e.g., measles, mumps, rubella)
2. Inactivated Killed Vaccines (e.g., polio, hepatitis A)
3. Subunit Vaccines (e.g., hepatitis B)
4. Nucleic Acid Vaccines (e.g., mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna)

Question 10

Which two types of vaccines use the entire pathogen? These are called cellular vaccines.

Answer 10

Live Attenuated Vaccines and Inactivated Killed Vaccines use the entire pathogen and are called cellular vaccines.

Question 11

Why is a live attenuated vaccine more effective at eliciting strong immune responses and good memory?

Answer 11

Live attenuated vaccines closely mimic actual infections, reproducing in the host, and inducing both humoral and cellular immunity, leading to lifelong immunity.

Question 12

Which types of vaccines do not use the entire pathogen? These are called acellular vaccines.

Answer 12

Subunit Vaccines, which include:
Conjugated Vaccines, Toxoids, and Virus-Like Particle Vaccines, do not use the entire pathogen and are called acellular vaccines.

Question 13

What is the specialized modifications for each subtype of subunit vaccines?

Answer 13

Subunit vaccines have specialized modifications such as conjugation, toxoids, and virus-like particles to enhance their effectiveness.

Question 14

Subunit Vaccine

Why is it necessary to offer a conjugated vaccine?

Answer 14

Conjugated vaccines are necessary, especially for children with poor immune responses, to enhance the immune response to vaccines based on capsular polysaccharides.

Question 15

Subunit Vaccine

What are toxoids?

Answer 15

Contain inactivated toxins produced by a pathogen eliciting an antibody
response against toxin. Ex. TDAP

Question 16

What are the types of nucleic acid vaccines?

Answer 16

Nucleic Acid Vaccines include naked or encapsulated RNA or DNA that encodes specific protein antigens. Examples include mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna.

Question 17

What is herd immunity?

Answer 17

Herd immunity is the indirect protection from infectious diseases that occurs when a large percentage of a population becomes immune, either through vaccination or previous infection, reducing the spread of the disease.

Question 18

Subunit Vaccine

What are virus-like particles?

Answer 18

Do not contain any viral genetic material (resemble intact viruses). Ex. Human papilloma vaccine

Question 19

Be ready for a short answer scenario on vaccines and how you would explain the importance of vaccines to a patient.

Answer 19

Vaccines are crucial to prevent diseases and protect individuals and communities. They work by training the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens, providing immunity without causing the disease. They help build herd immunity to protect the immunocompromised patients that are not able to get the vaccine.

Question 20

Know what types of vaccines Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson fall under for SARS-CoV-2.

Answer 20

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines, and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is a viral vector vaccine.