Acquired Immunity

Using Nature to Protect Ourselves from Infectious Bugs

Sep 12, 2009 Dan Paul Burgess

Each year disease control researchers attempt to identify predicted flu strains for the coming year and develop vaccines to offer acquired immunity to those at risk.

A New York Times article reports that in preparation for the coming flu season people over the age of 60 seem to have at least some immunity to the swine flu, for others vaccine will be necessary to develop an acquired immunity. In the last century the scientific world has made significant progress in using the body's own defense system to prevent disease.

Acquired Immunity

Leukocytes circulate throughout the vascular and lymphatic systems looking for intruding pathogens. They are programmed to identify foreign entities, that is, anything that is other than self. Pathogens, which include bacteria and viruses, stimulate the leukocytes to mobilize T and B cells. These cells alter their conformation to become antibodies capable of attacking and destroying the invading cells. The process of destroying the invading pathogens destroy 90% of the antibodies as well.

The remaining 10% of the leukocytes become long-lived memory cells that store the identifying information in preparation for a rapid response when that same antigen infects the body. This is referred to as immunity because the rapid response of the memory cell allows the biological defense to destroy the invading pathogen before it is able to reproduce sufficiently to cause illness. Each antibody is structured to respond to the specific antigen (antibody generator). This process is identified as acquired immunity.

Vaccines and Immunization

In order to elicit this acquired immunity response the antigen portion of a pathogen not capable of causing the infection is instilled into the body. This is known as a vaccination. In the case of a live virus, attenuated virus is used and often administered by nasal spray. Alternately inactivated (killed) virus is used in an injectable form. This causes the B and T cells to activate the immunological response. Once the new antibodies are formed a person is said to be immune to that specific antigen so when there is an exposure the body reacts rapidly to destroy the pathogen.

Seasonal Flu

Each year, in order to reduce the effects of the flu season, public health authorities monitor active strains and attempt to predict which strains will be most prevelant in the coming flu season. Basd on the data collected phamaceutical companies produce vaccines containing the three strains that are identified, known as a trivalent vaccine.

Once the vaccine is identified and produced testing takes place to assure that the antigens sufficiently produce the desired antibody response. This surveillance, identification, production, testing, and administration is a year round continuous process.

Reference

Tabor's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 20th Edition

BNC101

The copyright of the article Acquired Immunity in General Medicine is owned by Dan Paul Burgess. Permission to republish Acquired Immunity in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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