Fundamentals of Vaccine Immunology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to vaccine immunology.

Vaccine

A preparation or substance that is used to protect against a particular disease.

Antigen

A key design element and functional component of the vaccine that the body raises an immune response against.

Immunogenicity

The ability of a vaccine to provoke an immune response, or the degree of response it provokes.

Efficacy

A measure of how well a vaccine works in a defined population in controlled or ideal circumstances.

Correlate of protection (CoP)

The immune response a vaccine or natural viral infection would need to trigger so that an individual is protected from a virus or infectious disease in the future.

Antigenic Drift

Minor antigenic change that can reduce antibody binding and allow a virus to escape vaccine immunity.

Antigenic Shift

Major antigenic change involving a new genetic segment that can lead to immune evasion and potentially pandemics.

Memory B cells

Quiescent cells that respond to antigen upon recall, differentiating into long-lived plasma cells or re-entering the germinal center.

CD4 T cells

A subset of T cells that recognize specific antigens and help initiate and direct the immune response.

CD8 T cells

A subset of T cells that have the cytotoxic potential to kill infected or cancerous cells.