How is a vaccine different from an antibiotic with respect to immune stimulation?

80.2K

Verified Solution

Question

Medical Sciences

Howis a vaccine different from an antibiotic with respect to immunestimulation?

Answer & Explanation Solved by verified expert

4.2 Ratings (698 Votes)

The Immune System and Immunization The environment contains a wide variety of potentially harmful organisms pathogens such as bacteria viruses fungi protozoa and multicellular parasites which will cause disease if they enter the body and are allowed to multiply The body protects itself through a various defence mechanisms to physically prevent pathogens from entering the body or to kill them if they do The immune system is an extremely important defence mechanism that can identify an invading organism and destroy it Immunisation prevents disease by enabling the body to more rapidly respond to attack and enhancing the immune response to a particular organism Each pathogen has unique distinguishing components known as antigens which enable the immune system to differentiate between self the body and nonself the foreign material The first time the immune system sees a new antigen it needs to prepare to destroy it During this time the pathogen can multiply and cause disease However if the same antigen is seen again the immune system is poised to confine and destroy the organism rapidly This is known as adaptive immunity Vaccines utilise this adaptive immunity and memory to expose the body to the antigen without causing disease so that when then live pathogen infects the body the response is rapid and the pathogen is prevented from causing disease Depending on the type of infectious organism the response required to remove it varies For example viruses hide within the bodys own cells in different tissues such as the throat the liver and the nervous system and bacteria can multiply rapidly within infected tissues Lines of defense The body prevents infection through a number of nonspecific and specific mechanisms working on their own or together The bodys first lines of defence are external barriers that prevent germs from entering The largest of all is the skin which acts as a strong waterproof physical barrier and very few organisms are able to penetrate undamaged skin There are other physical barriers and a variety of chemical defences Examples of these nonspecific defences are given below Skin a strong physical barrier like a waterproof wall Mucus a sticky trap secreted by all the surfaces inside the body that are directly linked to the outside also contains antibodies and enzymes Cilia microscopic hairs in the airways that move to pass debris and mucus up away from the lungs Lysozyme a chemical enzyme present in tears and mucus that damages bacteria Phagocytes various cells that scavenge and engulf debris and invading See Answer

Get Answers to Unlimited Questions

Join us to gain access to millions of questions and expert answers. Enjoy exclusive benefits tailored just for you!

Membership Benefits:

Unlimited Question Access with detailed Answers
Zin AI - 3 Million Words
10 Dall-E 3 Images
20 Plot Generations
Conversation with Dialogue Memory
No Ads, Ever!
Access to Our Best AI Platform: Flex AI - Your personal assistant for all your inquiries!

Become a Member