Vaccine+Notes+from+Book+-+Rachel

7.4 Specific Defenses (pp.130-131) Define and describe
 * __specific defense:__ overcome infection by responding to antigens and destroying the disease causing agent
 * __antigen__: Foreign substance, usually a protein or a polysaccharide, that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies.
 * __special B cells called plasma cells__: derived from cloned B cells, circulate in the blood and lymph mass producing antibodies
 * __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.

7.5 Acquired Immunity (pp.136-137) Define and describe
 * __active immunity__: a person alone produces antibodies against an antigen, usually after a person is infected with a pathogen.
 * __passive immunity__: a person is given prepared antibodies or immune cells to combat a disease via an injection
 * __vaccine__: Antigens prepared in such a way that they can promote active immunity without causing disease.
 * __antibody titer:__ in order to follow an immune response the amount of antibody present in a sample of blood serum.

How was the hepatitis B vaccine prepared? (p.136)
 * The hepatitis B vaccine was prepared by genetically engineering bacteria to mass-produce the protein from the pathogen.

How could a vaccine be a contraceptive (form of birth control)? (p.332)
 * A vaccine contraceptive immunizes women against HCG, the hormone necessary to maintaining the implantation of the embryo.

How could a vaccine help fight cancer? (p.416)
 * A vaccine would use immune cells already genetically engineered to bear the tumor’s antigens.

Is an AIDS vaccine possible? (p.351)
 * In order to control AIDS or even create a vaccine, an HIV vaccine that prevents the infection totally must be developed. HIV vaccines in the works now are only good for preventive or therapeutic, solid results are not even expected until around 2010.


 * Describe "setback" number 2.
 * HIV mutates at a very high rate, strains may be differing by 10% within one person and 35% throughout the world. The focus of an AIDS vaccines is the on the surface proteins of HIV, but genetically different viruses may have different surface proteins. Meaning can scientist just use one HIV vaccine or are many different ones necessary for dealing with the different subtypes.
 * Describe setback number 3.
 * An AIDS vaccine may only be short term and would require booster shots regularly in order to maintain protection.