Vaccine Safety and Epidemiology

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of a clinical microbiology laboratory?

To develop vaccines

To treat infectious diseases

To study epidemiology

To identify microorganisms (correct)

What is required for the growth of viruses, Chlamydia, and Rickettsia?

Solid nutrient media

Specialized incubators

Liquid media

Cell or tissue cultures (correct)

How are bacteria and fungi typically identified in a culture?

By colonial characteristics, cell morphology, and biochemical properties (correct)

By observing growth patterns

Using nucleic-acid-based tests

Using serological tests

What is the purpose of monoclonal antibodies in diagnosis?

To detect specific antigens Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the interaction between particulate antigens and antibodies?

Agglutination reactions Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of hemagglutination reactions?

To diagnose diseases using red blood cells Signup and view all the answers

Which type of microscopy is used to study the morphology of microorganisms?

Light microscopy Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of specimen processing in a clinical microbiology laboratory?

To prepare specimens for culture or testing Signup and view all the answers

How are viruses typically identified?

Using serological and nucleic-acid-based tests Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of epidemiology in the context of infectious diseases?

To study the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the number of new cases of a disease occurring in a population during a specified period of time?

Incidence Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of recombinant vector vaccines?

They are genetically modified to produce a desired antigen Signup and view all the answers

What is a common side effect of vaccines?

Tenderness at the injection site Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations?

Epidemiology Signup and view all the answers

In agglutination reactions, what is the purpose of antibodies?

To combine with the antigen to form a complex Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between observational and interventional epidemiological studies?

Observational studies are used to describe the frequency of a disease, while interventional studies are used to test a hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of an antitoxin?

To neutralize the harmful effects of a bacterial exotoxin Signup and view all the answers

In viral hemagglutination inhibition tests, what is the role of antibodies?

To interfere with viral hemagglutination Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the number of existing cases of a disease in a population at a given point in time?

Prevalence Signup and view all the answers

What is a rare but potential side effect of vaccines?

Anaphylactic shock Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of ELISA?

To detect the presence of antibodies against certain viruses Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of live attenuated vaccines?

They provide lifelong immunity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of vaccine developers?

To understand the most effective antigens that will cause an immune response Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of nucleic acid (DNA) vaccines?

They cause the recipient to make the antigenic protein Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of conjugated vaccines?

To combine the desired antigen with a protein that boosts the immune response Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Vaccine Types and Characteristics

Recombinant vector vaccines are genetically modified viruses or bacteria that produce a desired antigen.
Live attenuated vaccines consist of attenuated microorganisms and provide lifelong immunity.
Inactivated vaccines consist of killed bacteria or viruses.
Subunit vaccines consist of antigenic fragments of a microorganism.
Conjugated vaccines combine the desired antigen with a protein that boosts the immune response.
Nucleic acid (DNA) vaccines cause the recipient to make the antigenic protein.

Vaccine Safety and Side Effects

Vaccines are the safest and most effective means of controlling infectious diseases.
Side effects vary according to vaccine and may include tenderness at the injection site, headache, fever, mild rash, and fatigue.
Allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock are rare side effects.

Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations.
Epidemiology is divided into observational and interventional studies.
Observational studies are either descriptive or analytical.
Interventional studies are designed to test a hypothesis by allocating an exposure or intervention to one group of people.

Disease Prevalence and Incidence

Prevalence is the number of existing cases in a population at a given point in time.
Incidence is the number of new cases occurring in a population during a specified period of time.

Transmission of Infectious Diseases

Direct and indirect transmission depend on several factors, including the infectious agent and time between infection of a person and becoming infectious.

Immunological Methods of Diagnosis

Agglutination reactions involve the interaction of particulate antigens with antibodies, leading to agglutination reactions.
Neutralization reactions eliminate the harmful effects of a bacterial exotoxin or virus by a specific antibody.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is a diagnostic test.
Hemagglutination reactions involve agglutination reactions using red blood cells.
Monoclonal antibodies are used to treat diseases and in diagnostic serological tests.

Diagnosis of Infection

Identification of microorganisms is achieved by detecting the microorganism or its products or the patient's immune response.
Specimen processing involves important steps in specimen collection and delivery to the laboratory.
Cultivation of microorganisms involves growing bacteria and fungi on solid nutrient or liquid media.
Identification of microorganisms involves colonial characteristics, cell morphology, and biochemical properties.
Microscopy and mass spectrometry are used in identification of microorganisms.