Vaccinations And Immunization Trivia Knowledge Test! Quiz

Passive immunity refers to the transfer of preformed antibodies from one individual to another, providing immediate protection against a specific pathogen. This can occur naturally, such as the transfer of antibodies from a mother to her fetus during pregnancy or through breastfeeding. It can also be artificially induced through the administration of preformed antibodies, such as in the case of immunoglobulin therapy. This type of immunity does not involve the production of antibodies by the recipient's own immune system, but rather relies on the presence of antibodies produced by another individual.

The colostral transfer of IgA in breast milk refers to the transfer of antibodies from a mother to her baby through breastfeeding. This is an example of passive immunity because the baby is receiving pre-formed antibodies from the mother, rather than producing them on its own. It is considered natural immunity because it occurs naturally through the normal process of breastfeeding.

Live, attenuated vaccines usually confer lifelong immunity because they contain a weakened form of the virus or bacteria that can still replicate in the body, but not cause disease. This allows the immune system to mount a strong and long-lasting response, producing both antibodies and memory cells that can recognize and respond to future infections. In contrast, inactivated vaccines contain killed or inactivated pathogens, which may require booster shots to maintain immunity. Toxoid vaccines contain inactivated toxins produced by bacteria, while DNA recombinant vaccines use genetically engineered DNA to produce proteins that stimulate an immune response.

Live, attenuated vaccines are created by weakening the disease-causing organism so that it can still stimulate an immune response without causing illness. This process is more challenging for bacteria compared to viruses because bacteria have thousands of genes that contribute to their virulence. Controlling and manipulating these genes to create a safe and effective vaccine is a complex task. Therefore, it is true that live, attenuated vaccines are difficult to create for bacteria due to the large number of genes involved.

Adjuvants are typically used in vaccines to stimulate the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and enhance the immune response. TLRs play a crucial role in recognizing pathogens and initiating an immune response. However, in vaccines, the antigens alone may not be sufficient to activate TLRs and generate a robust immune response. Adjuvants, which are substances added to vaccines, can stimulate the TLRs and enhance the immune response by providing additional signals to the immune system. Therefore, using adjuvants in combination with antigens in vaccines helps to elicit a stronger and more effective immune response.

The influenza vaccine is fertilized in a chicken egg. This is because the virus used to make the vaccine is grown in chicken eggs. The virus is injected into the eggs, where it replicates and produces large quantities of the virus. The virus is then harvested from the eggs, purified, and used to make the vaccine. Chicken eggs are commonly used for vaccine production as they provide a suitable environment for the virus to grow and replicate.

upon treatment with formalin, the toxin moiety is removed, creating the toxoid

Inactivated vaccines have several advantages over live vaccines, including the fact that they do not require refrigeration, the microbes used in the vaccine cannot revert back to a virulent form, and they are generally more stable and safe. However, one disadvantage of inactivated vaccines is that they stimulate a weaker immune response compared to live vaccines, which means that individuals may require booster shots to maintain their immunity.

Vaccination refers to the process of inducing immunity to a pathogen by injecting a weakened, modified, or related form of the pathogen that is no longer capable of causing disease. This stimulates the immune system to produce a response, including the production of antibodies, which can then protect the individual from future infections by the same pathogen. The term "vaccine" is often used interchangeably with vaccination, as it refers to the substance or preparation that is administered during the process of vaccination.

The conjugate vaccine acts by linking antigens or toxoids from the microbe to the outer polysaccharides. This helps the immature immune system react to the polysaccharide coating and defend against disease-causing bacteria.

An adjuvant is a substance that, when mixed with an immunogen (a substance that induces an immune response), enhances the immune response. It helps to stimulate the immune system and improve the effectiveness of vaccines or immunotherapies. Adjuvants can activate immune cells, promote the production of antibodies, and increase the duration and strength of the immune response. Immunologic adjuvants specifically refer to substances that enhance the immune response.

Alum (aluminum hydroxide) is the only adjuvant used for human vaccines in the US. Adjuvants are substances that are added to vaccines to enhance the immune response and increase the effectiveness of the vaccine. Alum has been used as an adjuvant for many years and is considered safe and effective. It works by stimulating the immune system and promoting the production of antibodies against the vaccine antigen. Other adjuvants, such as TLR agonists (CpG), complete Freund's adjuvant, and cytokines (IL-2), may be used in research or veterinary vaccines, but they are not approved for use in human vaccines in the US.

The Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine (Hib) is an example of a conjugate vaccine. Conjugate vaccines are created by combining a weak antigen with a strong antigen to enhance the immune response. In the case of the Hib vaccine, a sugar molecule from the bacteria is linked to a protein carrier. This combination helps stimulate a stronger immune response and provides protection against the bacteria.

A nasal spray vaccine is likely to produce a more robust immune response compared to an intramuscular injection. This is because the nasal spray vaccine is administered directly to the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, which are rich in immune cells. This allows for a targeted immune response at the site of entry for many respiratory infections. In contrast, an intramuscular injection delivers the vaccine into the muscle tissue, which may not provide the same level of localized immune response as the nasal spray.

All immunogens are antigens, but not all antigens are immunogens
Antigens = any agent capable of binding specifically to components of the immune response
Immunogen = any agent capable of inducing an immune response