Principles of Immunisation

Question 1

What are the 2 modes of acquiring immunity?

Answer 1

Active and Passive

Question 2

What is the advantage of passive immunity?

Answer 2

It gives immediate protection

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of passive immunity?

Answer 3

There is only a short term effect- no immunological memory
Serum sickness - incoming Ab is recognised as a foreign antigen
Incoming immune cells can reject the recipient

Question 4

How is active immunisation acquired naturally?

Answer 4

Exposure/infection by the antigen

Question 5

How is active immunity acquired artificially?

Answer 5

Vaccination

Question 6

What is an antigen?

Answer 6

Whole organism or part of it which stimulates an immune response

Question 7

Does an immunological memory produce an immediate effect?

Answer 7

No but it produces a faster and better response to the next antigenic encounter- secondary response

Question 8

Give 2 difference between the primary and secondary exposure to an antigen?

Answer 8

Primary - low Ab conc.
Secondary - high Ab conc.
Primary - slower response
Secondary - faster response

Question 9

Name 3 common diseases we vaccinate against?

Answer 9

Measles
Mumps
Rubella

Question 10

What does the MMR vaccine vaccinate against?

Answer 10

Measles
Mumps
Rubella

Question 11

What can the disease mumps lead to?

Answer 11

Meningitis

Question 12

Who is rubella dangerous to?

Answer 12

Unborn children

Question 13

Temporarily who are there restriction to vaccinations to?

Answer 13

Those with febrile illness

Those who are pregnant

Question 14

Permanently who are there restrictions to vaccinations to?

Answer 14

Those with specific allergies

Those who are immunocompromised

Question 15

What was the first vaccine made against?

Answer 15

Small pox

Question 16

Is small pox eradicated?

Answer 16

Yes

Question 17

What does a disease organism have that induces an immune response?

Answer 17

Antigens

Question 18

What do antigens stimulate the production of?

Answer 18

Antibodies

Question 19

Once antibodies have destructed the disease causing organism what are formed?

Answer 19

Memory B cells

Question 20

Why can’t live, virulent organisms be used in vaccines?

Answer 20

They are too dangerous

They would induce the disease they are trying to prevent

Question 21

Which vaccines carry the most risk?

Answer 21

Live attenuated vaccines

Question 22

What are live attenuated vaccines?

Answer 22

A vaccine that contains the live organism that has been weakened

Question 23

Why are live attenuated vaccines often the most successful?

Answer 23

Because they multiply in the body creating a large immune response

Question 24

Explain inactivated vaccines

Answer 24

A vaccine that is produced by killing the disease causing microbe with radiation, heat or radiation

Question 25

Why do inactivated vaccines often require several booster shots?

Answer 25

To maintain the persons immunity

Question 26

Do inactivated vaccine produce a strong immune response?

Answer 26

No - they stimulate a weaker response

Question 27

What do inactivated vaccines consist of?

Answer 27

Either killed organisms or purified fractions of the micro-organism

Question 28

What is an acellular vaccine?

Answer 28

One that only uses the antigenic part of the disease causing organism

Question 29

Do acellular vaccines often require a booster and if so why?

Answer 29

Yes because they generally don't induce the strongest immune response

Question 30

Can acellular vaccines cause the disease?

Answer 30

No

Question 31

What is a toxoid vaccine?

Answer 31

Used when a bacterial toxin is the main cause of illness - when bacteria secrete toxins or harmful chemicals but the toxins are inactivate

Question 32

How are the toxins inactivated in toxoid vaccines?

Answer 32

They are treated with formalin

Question 33

After a toxin is treated to decrease its harmfulness what is it known as?

Answer 33

A toxoid

Question 34

What is a subunit vaccine?

Answer 34

A vaccine that includes the antigen that best stimulates the immune system

Question 35

What is an epitope?

Answer 35

The part of the antigen that the Ab or T cells recognsises

Question 36

What is an adjuvant?

Answer 36

A substance which enhances the body's immune response to an antigen

Question 37

What is the adjuvant commonly used in humans?

Answer 37

Aluminium Salts

Question 38

Why are aluminium salts used?

Answer 38

As they generally cause only mild inflammatory reactions they are safe and they have the ability to generate memory

Question 39

What is the primary aim of vaccination?

Answer 39

To protect the individual receiving it

Question 40

What is herd immunity?

Answer 40

When a large proportion of the population are vaccinated that is protects those who are not vaccinated

Question 41

What does herd immunity reduce the risk of?

Answer 41

An unvaccinated individual being exposed to infection

Question 42

What are some vaccines that should be given to travellers?

Answer 42

``` Hepatitis A Typhoid Cholera Rabies Yellow fever ```