VACCINES

• Termed coined by Pasteur to honor

Jenner’s work

• Vaccines are cost-effective uses of

our immune system

• Dramatic reduction of
• Diptheria
• Measles
• Mumps
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Tetanus
Key Features of Adaptive Immunity in History

Freedom from Plague after Surviving

Immunity Exists
First Exposure

Susceptibility to Other Diseases Immunity is Specific

Even After Surviving Plague

Deliberately Induce Small-pox to Immunity has Memory

Protect Against Later Exposure

Induce Non-pathogenic Cow-pox to Protect Related Antigens

Against Virulent Small-pox (Vaccination) are Cross-Reactive

Antigens can be
Resistance to Chicken Cholera
separated from
after Surviving Exposure to Weakened Chicken
pathogenic features
Cholera Bacilli (Attenuated Vaccines)
Measles Vaccine (Introduced 1962)

Reappearance in 1980’s in
unvaccinated or singly
vaccinated young people
Passive Immunity & Short-term protection

• Transient protection (remedy for current problem)

• Involves transfer of preformed Ig:
• between ☥ and fetus (trans-placental) & colostrum
• Or by injection
• Given to those exposed to botulism, tetanus, diptheria, hepatitis,
rabies, measles, snake/insect bites
• Provides immediate protection to healthcare/travellers
• Passive immunity does not activate Immune System ! and
produces no memory
Active Immunization and Long-term protection

• Promotes protective immunity and immunological

memory
• Is achieved by:
• Natural infection
• Artificial introduction of whole cells/antigens
• Immune system plays an ACTIVE role -> stim Ag-
reactive T/B cells
• Immunizations have played a significant role in
decrease of infectious disease–especially in
children.
Overview of the steps leading to immunity after administration of a vaccine

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-00710-2_14
 A. Whole organism vaccines
1. Attenuated viruses and bacteria (still can grow-non pathogenic)
Pros:
prolonged exposure to epitopes>immunogenicity> memory
Stimulates host cell-mediated response
Cons
Possibility of reversion to virulent form and side effects
Ex: Polio and Measles

2. Inactivated viruses and bacteria

can be performed with heat or chemicals*
(formaldehyde, alkylating agents)
Usually requires repeated boosters
Predominantly humoral IR
**risks of containing active pathogen
B. Purified macromolecules as vaccines
Avoids the risks of the ‘whole org’ vaccines-3 forms:

1. Inactivated exotoxin (“Toxoids”)-

- formaldehyde inactivation
- Ex. diptheria and tetanus

2. Capsular polysaccharides (CPs)-

- Protection against capsular bacteria
- CPs have low immunogenicity
- Conjugated with protein carrier to enhance immune response
(Ex: Hib: CPs are linked to diptheria, tetanus toxoid)

3. Recombinant Vaccines
- gene encoding immunogenic protein is cloned and expressed in
bacterial, yeat or mammalian cells
- HepB surface Ag (HBsAg) – cloned in yeast
C. Recombinant Vector Vaccines

-Genes encoding significant

Ag’s from pathogens may be
transferred into attenuated
viruses/bacteria

- Vectors include: vaccinia,

canarypox, polio, adeno
viruses
Salmonella, BCG strain of M.
bovis, oral Strep

Ex: Salmonella typhimurium is

engineered with genes from
vibrio cholerae
D. DNA vaccines:

• Plasmid DNA encoding

antigenic peptide is
directly injected into the
muscle

• DNA is taken up by the

muscle and the encoded
protein antigen is
expressed

• Stimulate both humeral

and cell mediated immune
response