topic 11.1: Antibody Production and Vaccination

• Immunity


  Based on recognition of self and destruction of foreign material
• Antibody production and vaccination

  • Macrophage engulfing and digesting tuberculosis bacteria
  • Bacterial surface antigens presented to lymphocytes to generate specific immune response

  
• Unique molecules on cell surface


  Every organism has them
• Pathogens


  Can be species-specific or cross species barriers
• B lymphocytes


  Activated by T lymphocytes in mammals
• Activated B cells


  Multiply to form clones of plasma cells and memory cells
• Plasma cells


  Secrete antibodies
• Antibodies


  Aid the destruction of pathogens
• White cells


  Release histamine in response to allergens
• Histamines


  Cause allergic symptoms
• Immunity


  Depends upon the persistence of memory cells

  
• Vaccines


  Contain antigens that trigger immunity but do not cause the disease
• Hybridoma cell


  Fusion of a tumour cell with an antibody-producing plasma cell
• Monoclonal antibodies


  Produced by hybridoma cells
• Smallpox


  • First infectious disease of humans to have been eradicated by vaccination

  
• Monoclonal antibodies to HCG

  • Used in pregnancy test kits
• Antigens on the surface of red blood cells stimulate antibody production in a person with a different blood group
• Every organism has unique molecules on the surface of its cells
• Pathogens can be species-specific although others can cross species barriers
• B lymphocytes are activated by T lymphocytes in mammals
• Activated B cells multiply to form clones of plasma cells and memory cells
• Plasma cells secrete antibodies
• Antibodies aid the destruction of pathogens
• White cells release histamine in response to allergens
• Histamines cause allergic symptoms
• Immunity depends upon the persistence of memory cells

  
• Vaccines contain antigens that trigger immunity but do not cause the disease
• Fusion of a tumour cell with an antibody-producing plasma cell creates a hybridoma cell
• Monoclonal antibodies are produced by hybridoma cells
• Vaccination


  1. Initiating a primary immune response

  2. Resulting in the production of memory cells

  3. Memory cells can produce antibodies in response to the antigen

  
• Vaccination allows an individual to become immune to a disease without experiencing it

  
• Vaccines


  • Contain antigens in various forms that should not cause symptoms in a healthy person
  • Attenuated (weakened) or inactivated viruses
  • Weakened toxins (produced by bacterial pathogens)
  • Subunits - the antigen or part of the pathogen carrying the antigen

  
• Sometimes a series of vaccinations are needed to stimulate the production of sufficient memory cells

  
• When exposed to the actual pathogen, memory cells trigger a secondary immune response that is much faster and stronger - therefore little or no symptoms are experienced

  
• Vaccines provide long-term immunity, but memory cells may not survive a life time therefore booster shots may be required

  
• DNA vaccines are being developed that introduce DNA that encodes for antigens rather than the antigen itself

  
• Smallpox was the first infectious disease of humans to have been eradicated by vaccination
• Eradication programs for other diseases has reduced the number of cases, but has been less successful
• • Polio and measles become contagious before symptoms are easy to detect
  • Immunity to Malaria is not complete and hence it can infect the same person a number of times
  • Yellow fever has an animal reservoir, it can also affect monkeys</b>
• Modern medicine would consider Jenner's testing procedure unethical