Immunology Basics and Vaccine Types

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Questions and Answers

What factor can influence the duration of antibody responses after vaccination?

Time of year the vaccination occurs

Age of the individual receiving the vaccine

Type of vaccine administered (correct)

Geographic location of vaccination

Which vaccine is associated with antibody responses that can last for decades?

Pertussis vaccine

Live attenuated measles vaccine

Inactivated measles vaccine

HPV vaccine (correct)

What is typically true about antibody levels after primary vaccination?

They always remain below the protective threshold.

They can vary greatly depending on the vaccine type. (correct)

They increase continuously for years after vaccination.

They provide lifelong immunity only in cases of all vaccinations.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the measles vaccine?

The inactivated measles vaccine induces shorter-lived antibody responses. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is a key difference between the HPV vaccine and the pertussis vaccine?

HPV vaccine induces long-term antibody responses. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of T helper 1 (TH1) cells in the immune response?

Establishing cellular immunity Signup and view all the answers

What do polysaccharide vaccines primarily consist of?

Carbohydrate structures from bacterial capsules Signup and view all the answers

Which T cell subtype is specifically associated with immunity at mucosal surfaces?

TH17 cells Signup and view all the answers

What type of study involves infecting volunteers with a pathogen to observe immune responses?

Human challenge studies Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential benefit of administering serum antibodies from an immunocompetent donor?

It provides immediate but temporary immunity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of antibodies in vaccination?

Act as mediators of sterilizing immunity Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the role of T cells in immunity?

Help B cells in antibody production and development Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of human challenge studies?

Experimental conditions may not reflect natural infection. Signup and view all the answers

What consists of an adjuvant that includes aluminium salt?

Monophosphoryl lipid A Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the complement system?

Enhance opsonization and inflammation Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during passive immunity transfer to newborns?

Transfer of maternal antibodies through the placenta Signup and view all the answers

What can happen if an individual has T cell deficiency?

Failure to control infections leading to severe disease Signup and view all the answers

What type of protection can be obtained through infusion of exogenous antibodies?

Immediate protection against specific infections Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of live attenuated vaccines?

They are comprised of weakened forms of pathogens. Signup and view all the answers

Which vaccine was first introduced in 1798?

Smallpox Signup and view all the answers

Which type of vaccine is made using inactivated whole cells?

Killed whole organism vaccines Signup and view all the answers

What is the first year a toxoid vaccine was introduced?

1923 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a subunit vaccine?

They contain whole pathogens. Signup and view all the answers

Which vaccine type was first introduced in 1986?

Virus-like particle vaccines Signup and view all the answers

What is a feature of the protein–polysaccharide vaccines?

They use polysaccharides from the outer membrane of bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

Which vaccine type utilizes recombinant protein technology?

Subunit vaccines Signup and view all the answers

The first use of killed whole organism vaccines was for which pathogen?

Typhoid fever Signup and view all the answers

Which type of vaccine typically generates a long-lasting immune memory?

Live attenuated vaccines Signup and view all the answers

What is the threshold for herd immunity for influenza?

It varies from season to season. Signup and view all the answers

What level of vaccine coverage is considered likely to be optimal for reducing seasonal influenza epidemics?

≥80% Signup and view all the answers

What could be a downside to very high rates of vaccination?

Prevention of natural boosting of immunity. Signup and view all the answers

Which vaccine besides tetanus is mentioned as not inducing protective innate immune responses?

BCG vaccine. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential benefit of understanding how the BCG vaccine induces protective responses?

It can be applied to other pathogens. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of vaccination could have a substantial public health impact during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic?

Reduction of disease-driven hospitalization. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does modest vaccine coverage of 30–40% have on seasonal influenza epidemics?

It may have some effect. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the absence of pathogen transmission play in vaccination effectiveness?

It prevents natural immune boosting. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Human Challenge Studies

Used to study correlates of protection in controlled settings
Can determine how antibodies protect against pathogens
Studies may not reflect natural infection

T Cell Role in Immunity

Crucial for immune system function
Help B cells produce antibodies
Deficiency leads to uncontrolled infection, like varicella zoster virus

Types of Immunity

Passive protection: Receiving antibodies from another source
Active immunity: The body's own immune response to a pathogen
Examples:
- Maternal antibodies provide newborns protection
- Immune donors provide antibodies for deficient individuals

Vaccine Types

Live-attenuated: Weakened pathogen, allows for strong and lasting immunity. Examples: Measles, mumps, rubella, yellow fever, influenza
Killed whole-organism: Contains inactive pathogens. Provides weaker, shorter-lived immunity. Examples: Whole-cell pertussis, polio, influenza
Toxoid: Contains inactive toxins, effective for preventing disease caused by toxins. Examples: Diphtheria, tetanus
Subunit: Contains specific pathogen components (proteins, polysaccharides). Example: Hepatitis B, pertussis, influenza

Antibody Response to Vaccines

Varies depending on the vaccine
Virus-like particles for HPV vaccine: induce long-lasting, decades-long antibody response
Pertussis vaccine: induce short-term antibody response
Inactivated measles vaccine: Induces shorter-lived antibody response compared to live attenuated measles vaccine

Herd Immunity

Occurs when a significant portion of the population is immune to a pathogen
Prevents pathogen spread
Prevents outbreaks
Threshold for herd immunity: varies depending on the pathogen
Example: Influenza vaccine: 80% coverage considered optimal

BCG Vaccine

Induces innate immune response (early clearance)
Provides protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
BCG vaccination does not elicit a T cell response in previously vaccinated individuals

COVID-19 Vaccine

Prevention of severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalization
Substantial public health impact

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Description

Dive into the essentials of immunology, focusing on human challenge studies, the role of T cells, and different types of immunity. This quiz will also cover various vaccine types and their characteristics. Test your knowledge on how immunity is acquired and the functioning of vaccines.