LC-Vaccinehw

7.4 Specific Defenses (pp.130-131) 7.5 Acquired Immunity (pp.136-137) How was the hepatitis B vaccine prepared? (p.136) They genetically engineered bacteria to mass-produce a protein from pathogens. How could a vaccine be a contraceptive (form of birth control)? (p.332) It is intended to immunize women against HCG, the hormone necessary to maintaining the implantation of the embryo. But this vaccine is still in its earliest stages of experimentation.
 * Define and describe
 * specific defenses are used to protect the body against harmful cells. They can kill specific cells without damaging those around the bad cell.
 * antigen: this is the message that specific defenses respond to. they are molecules the immune system recognizes as foreign to the body
 * special B cells called plasma cells: capable of recognizing antigens because they have specific antigen receptors.
 * antibody: protein produced in response to the presence of an antigen; each antibody combines with a specific antigen.
 * antibody mediated immunity: Specific mechanism of defense in which plasma cells derived from B cells produce antibodies that combine with antigens
 * Define and describe
 * active immunity: Resistance to disease due to the immune system's response to a microorganism or a vaccine.
 * passive immunity: Protection against infection acquired by transfer of antibodies to a susceptible individual.
 * vaccine: antigens prepared in such a way that they can promote active immunity without causing disease.
 * antibody titer: Amount of antibody present in a sample of blood serum

How could a vaccine help fight cancer? (p.416) A vaccine could kill only cells that lack a p53 gene, or tumor cells. Is an AIDS vaccine possible? (p.351) Yes, there are many vaccines in stages of testing, but nothing has been proven effective...yet! They would even be supposedly inexpensive!
 * Describe "setback" number 2. HIV mutates very quickly and a vaccine for the disease would have to be constantly changing and tested. Also, it would be at different stages of mutation in each person.
 * Describe setback number 3. The vaccine would be short term such as the flu vaccine. But, they would be better than nothing.