Vaccine Flashcards
(123 cards)
Innate vs Acquired Immunity
Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense, non-specific and present from birth, while acquired immunity is developed over time through exposure to pathogens.
B cells vs T cells
B cells provide humoral immunity by producing antibodies, while T cells mediate cell-based immunity by attacking infected or abnormal cells.
Active vs Passive Immunity
Active immunity is acquired through vaccination or infection, producing long-term protection, whereas passive immunity is received through antibodies (e.g., maternal or monoclonal antibodies).
Principle of Memory in Vaccination
Vaccines work by stimulating immune memory, enabling the body to recognize and respond quickly to future infections.
Types of Vaccines Based on Administration
Vaccines can be administered via intramuscular (IM), intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC), nasal, or oral routes.
Types of Vaccines Based on Pathogen
Includes live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, toxoid, recombinant, mRNA, and DNA vaccines.
Inactivated Vaccine
Uses killed pathogens to generate immunity but requires booster doses. Examples: Hepatitis A, Polio (shot), Rabies.
Live Attenuated Vaccine
Uses weakened pathogens to generate strong, long-lasting immunity but can be risky for immunocompromised individuals. Examples: MMR, Rotavirus, Chickenpox.
Subunit Vaccine
Uses antigenic parts of a pathogen, reducing risks associated with whole-pathogen vaccines. Examples: Hepatitis B, HPV.
Recombinant Vector Vaccine
Uses a harmless virus or bacteria to deliver genetic material encoding an antigen. Example: COVID-19 adenovirus-based vaccines.
Conjugate Vaccine
Combines a weak antigen with a strong carrier protein to enhance immune response. Example: Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) vaccine.
Polysaccharide Vaccine
Contains carbohydrate molecules from bacterial capsules to trigger an immune response. Example: Pneumococcal vaccine.
Nucleic Acid Vaccines
Use genetic material (DNA or RNA) to instruct cells to produce an antigen, inducing immunity.
mRNA Vaccine
Uses synthetic mRNA to produce an antigen inside host cells, generating an immune response. Example: Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Self-Amplifying mRNA Vaccine
An advanced mRNA vaccine that produces multiple copies of the antigen, enhancing immune response and reducing dosage.
DNA Vaccines
Injects genetically engineered DNA to produce antigens in cells, leading to immune system activation. Example: ZyCoV-D.
COVID-19 Vaccine Types
Includes mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna), viral vector (Covishield, Sputnik V), subunit (Novavax), and DNA vaccines (ZyCoV-D).
COVID-19 Vaccines in India
Covishield (viral vector), Covaxin (inactivated virus), Sputnik V (viral vector), ZyCoV-D (DNA), iNCOVACC (nasal vaccine).
ZyCoV-D: India’s First DNA Vaccine
Developed by Zydus Cadila, administered without needles using a jet system, requiring three doses.
iNCOVACC: India’s First Intranasal Vaccine
Developed by Bharat Biotech, using an adenovirus vector for mucosal immunity.
Pneumococcal Vaccine
Part of India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia and meningitis.
BCG Vaccine
Developed in 1921 to prevent tuberculosis, also used in cancer immunotherapy.
Toxoid Vaccine
Uses an inactivated bacterial toxin to induce immunity. Examples: Diphtheria, Tetanus toxoid vaccines.
Tetanus Vaccine
Includes both active (toxoid) and passive (immunoglobulin) options for protection.