Herd Immunity and Vaccination Strategies

A female sex hormone that plays a crucial role in the immune system, particularly by enhancing immune responses.

A type of macrophage that helps suppress inflammation and promote tissue repair.

A type of macrophage that helps fight infection by releasing inflammatory chemicals.

A female sex hormone that generally has an opposite effect to estradiol, suppressing inflammation.

A male sex hormone that primarily modulates immune responses, often acting to suppress inflammation and reduce immune activation.

Cells that are responsible for identifying and destroying infected or cancerous cells.

A class of white blood cells responsible for engulfing and destroying pathogens.

Specialized immune cells that present antigens to activate T cells.

A state where B cells become unresponsive to antigens due to lack of BCR triggering.

The receptor on B cells that recognizes antigens.

The process where B cells are programmed to become unresponsive to specific antigens.

The process where cells degrade proteins, like the BCR, into smaller peptides.

A molecule that binds to a receptor and triggers a signaling cascade.

A signaling pathway that activates transcription factors involved in immune responses.

A type of kinase involved in B cell signaling.

An enzyme that removes phosphate groups, which can reverse the effects of protein kinases.

A substance that is present in very small amounts in vaccines, food, and water, often used as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response.

The cost of treating patients with chronic hepatitis is significantly higher than the cost of vaccinating against hepatitis B and C.

Female individuals tend to have a stronger immune response to vaccines compared to males, regardless of the type of vaccine or age.

Formaldehyde is used in vaccines in very small amounts. It plays a crucial role in preserving and stabilizing the vaccine components.

Mercury, in the form of ethylmercury (ETIL), is not present in vaccines. The confusion arises from the misidentification with methylmercury (METIL) which is toxic.

Vaccines contain attenuated (weakened), dead, or protein-based components of pathogens, depending on the type and purpose.

Vaccines trigger the immune system to recognize and combat specific pathogens, preventing future infections.

The total amount of aluminum ingested annually through drinking water is much higher than the amount present in a single vaccine dose.

A modified antigen that fails to trigger an immune response, preventing both initial and subsequent immune reactions.

The inability of the immune system to mount an effective response to a specific antigen. This can occur when the antigen is presented in a way that does not activate immune cells.

Special immune cells that engulf and display antigens to other immune cells, initiating an immune response. Examples include macrophages and dendritic cells.

The process of attaching sugar molecules (glycans) to proteins, affecting their stability and immunogenicity.

The ability of an antigen to trigger an immune response. This is affected by factors like protein structure, size, and stability.

A substance, often a protein, that triggers an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies and activation of immune cells.

Antigen-antibody complexes are more immunogenic than soluble antigen.

The amount of antigen administered to an individual. This is a critical factor in determining whether an immune response will be induced or suppressed.

A type of treatment for allergies that involves injecting small doses of the allergen over a period of time to gradually build up tolerance.

A type of treatment for allergies that uses antibodies to block the action of certain inflammatory chemicals involved in allergic reactions.

A type of allergic reaction that involves a reaction to the surface proteins of cells.

Type II Hypersensitivity reactions are triggered by the presence of large quantities of IgG antibodies.

A type of cell-mediated immune response where NK cells destroy cells coated with antibodies.

A type of immune response involving macrophages engulfing and destroying cells coated with antibodies.

A disorder characterized by a low number of platelets in the blood, often triggered by Type II Hypersensitivity.

Immune system disorders that arise from the immune system attacking the body's own tissues, often involving Type II Hypersensitivity.

B cells in a state of anergy show reduced levels of IgM on their surface. This indicates a change in the expression of the B cell receptor, not a change in the receptor itself.

Anergic B cells are susceptible to becoming responsive again if the antigen exposure is stopped for a period of time. This is because the continued presence of the antigen is required to maintain the anergic state.

Inhibitory receptors, like CD22 and Fc-gamma-RIIB, act as 'brakes' in the immune system. When activated by binding to immunoglobulins, they interrupt signaling pathways leading to immune responses.

A type of dendritic cell that does not express co-stimulatory molecules (like B7). This prevents proper T cell activation and contributes to tolerance.

A specific co-stimulatory molecule expressed on activated dendritic cells, essential for proper T cell activation.

The process where T cells are activated by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which express co-stimulatory molecules. This leads to T cell differentiation into effector and memory cells.

A state of unresponsiveness in mature T cells, where they are unable to carry out their effector functions despite encountering their specific antigen. This can occur when T cells are presented with the antigen without co-stimulatory signals.