Practical Application of Immunology

vaccine

a material that can artificially induce immunity to an infectious disease usually after injection

attenuated vaccine

a type of vaccine where pathogens are weakened, not killed

inactivated vaccines

a type of vaccine made from pathogens that have been killed by heat or chemicals but produce a shorter period of immunity

subunit vaccine

a type of vaccine that uses antigenic (antibody-stimulating) portions of a pathogen, rather than using the whole pathogen

conjugate vaccines

a type of vaccine that have been made by conjugating bacterial capsular antigens to molecules that stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies

toxoid vaccines

a type of vaccine that stimulates the production of antibodies that are capable of neutralizing the exotoxins of pathogens

DNA vaccine or gene vaccine

a type of vaccine that is experimental where a particular gene is inserted into plasmids and injected to direct the synthesis of a particular microbial protein (antigen)

autogenous vaccine

a type of vaccine that has been prepared from bacteria isolated from a localized infection. the pathogens are killed then injected into the same person to induce production of more antibodies

antitoxins

antibodies that neutralize toxins

antiserum

a serum that contains antitoxins

immunologic diagnostic procedures (IDP)

includes tests to diagnose infectious disease and immune system disorders, determine issue compatibility for organ and tissue transplant, and detect and measure various serum components

precipitation reaction

a procedure that involves the reaction of soluble antigen with IgG and IgM antibodies to form large, interlocking molecular aggregates called lattices

direct agglutination tests

a procedure that detect antibodies against relatively large cellular antigens, such as those on red blood cells, bacteria, and fungi

indirect agglutination test

a procedure that shows the antibody reacting with the soluble antigen adhering to the particles

neutralization reaction

an antigen antibody reaction in which the harmful effects of a bacterial exotoxin or virus are blocked by specific antibodies

complement-fixation reaction

a procedure that detects small amounts of specific lysins (antibodies) that fix-complement and can lyse target cells and is used to diagnose certain viral, fungal, and Rickettsia disease

fluorescent-antibody techinques

a procedure that identifies microorganisms in clinical specimens or detect the presence of a specific antibody

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)

the most widely used test that uses antibodies linked to an enzyme

hypersensitivity

refers to an overly sensitive or overly reactive immune system

autoimmune disease

results when a person's immune system no longer recognizes certain body tissues as self and attempt to destroy those tissues as if they were non-self or foreign

immunocompetent

a person whose immune system is functioning properly

immunosuppressed, immunodepressed, or immunocompromised

a person whose immune system is not functioning properly

Anti-A serum

a serum containing antibodies against A antigen

Anti-B serum

a serum containing antibodies against B antigen

anti-Rh serum

a serum containing antibodies against Rh antigen

rhesus monkey

what does Rh mean?

systemic anaphylaxis

a life-threatening IgE-mediated hypersensitivity also known as anaphylactic shock and the shock reaction usually occurs immediately after re-exposure to the antigen

atopic persons

refers to people who are prone to allergies

allergens

antigens that cause allergic reactions

local anaphylaxis

a type of anaphylaxis that is usually immediate, temporary, and less severe than systemic anaphylaxis and is associated with antigens that are ingested or inhaled

desensitization

also known as subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy

desensitization

a procedure that usually consists of a series of gradually increasing dosages of the antigen carefully injected beneath the skin