Preventing Infectious Disease - Expanded Flashcards

These flashcards cover key concepts related to preventing infectious diseases through vaccination and various types of vaccines.

Vaccination (Immunization)

A major strategy for preventing infectious disease that triggers an immune response by intentionally exposing the body to a pathogenic antigen.

Vaccine

An immunogen solution containing the antigen of interest that stimulates immunity and prevents infection.

Edward Jenner

The father of immunology who observed that cowpox infection protected against smallpox.

Adaptive immunity

The long-term immunity acquired through the immune response after exposure to pathogens or through vaccination.

Live Attenuated Vaccines

Vaccines that contain weakened live pathogens, providing a strong immune response without typically requiring boosters.

Inactivated Vaccines

Vaccines that contain killed pathogens, which are mass-producible and inexpensive but require multiple doses.

Subunit Vaccines

Vaccines that contain only a piece of the pathogen and require an adjuvant to stimulate the immune response.

Toxoid Vaccines

Vaccines that use inactivated toxins from a pathogen, prompting an immune response to the toxin rather than the pathogen.

Viral Vector Vaccines

Vaccines that use a harmless virus to deliver DNA/RNA coding for an antigen as a gene delivery system.

mRNA Vaccines

Vaccines that introduce mRNA for the host cells to translate into viral proteins, stimulating immunity.

Herd Immunity

Population-wide protection achieved when most individuals are vaccinated, reducing disease spread.