Antibody production & vaccination 11.1 HL

This topic covers the role of antigens in challenging the immune system leading to antibody production. There are many details required including knowledge of B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, memory cells and plasma cells. Vaccination as a method of promoting antibody production leading to immunity is an important concept in this topic as is the production of mono-clonal antibodies.

Key concepts

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Essentials

These slides summarise the essential understanding and skills in this topic. 
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Summary

Summary list for 11.1 Antibody production & vaccination

Cells & pathogens

  • The surface of cells of an organism has unique molecules.
  • Pathogens can be species-specific or can cross species barriers.

Antibody production involves the following:

  • B lymphocytes are activated by T lymphocytes in mammals.
  • Activated B lymphocytes multiply to form clones of plasma cells and memory cells (giving immunity).
  • Plasma cells secrete antibodies which aid the destruction of pathogens.
  • Other white blood cells release histamine in response to allergens which causes allergic symptoms.

Vaccination and monoclonal antibodies

  • Vaccines contain antigens that trigger an immune response without causing the disease.
  • Fusion of a tumour cell with an antibody-producing plasma cell creates a hybridoma cell.
  • Monoclonal antibodies are produced by hybridoma cells.
  • Monoclonal antibodies to HCG are used in pregnancy test kits.

Skills & applications

  • Smallpox was the first infectious disease of humans to have been eradicated by vaccination.
  • Human vaccines are often produced using the immune responses of other animals
  • Blood group antigens on the surface of red blood cells stimulate antibody production in a different blood group.
  • Skills to analyse epidemiological data related to vaccination programmes.

Mindmaps

This diagram summaries the main sections of topic 11.1 about antibodies and vaccination.
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Exam style questions

Antibodies: Explaining the processes which lead to immunity following a vaccination is an important skill from this topic.

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Explain how exposure to antigens leads to the production of antibodies by the immune system. [4]

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Extra exam question on clonal selection.    Click to open.

The role of clonal selection in the process of antibody production is an important concept.

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Clonal selection of a B cell happens when an antigen binds to a specific matching receptor on the B cell.
Explain the importance of clonal selection in the production of antibodies. (4 marks)


Hint: do not confuse antigen, pathogen, and antibody. Antigens are substances on a pathogen that  cause an immune response. Pathogens are disease causing organisms and antibodies aid in their destruction.

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Extra exam question on monoclonal antibodies.       Click to open.

Monoclonal antibodies are a valuable diagnostic and treatment option in medicine due to their specificity.

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  • Explain why tumour cells are fused to plasma cells to produce monoclonal antibodies. (3 marks)


  • Outline how monoclonal antibodies are used in testing for a pathogen. (3 marks).



Hint: Use short, focussed sentences in a structured answer. Answers can be bullet pointed or numbered if you wish.
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Extra exam question on blood groups and transfusion.     Click to open.

Blood groups are determined by the presence or absence of one or both of the A or B antigen.

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Explain why an individual with blood group A cannot receive blood group B in a transfusion. (2 marks).





Hint: Antigens trigger the immune response.
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Test yourself

Multiple choice questions

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Drag and drop activities

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The secondary immune response.

Drag and drop the correct term into the gap to describe the secondary immnune reponse.

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respond vaccination quickly immunity antigen booster B cells previously blood

A secondary immune response occurs when a person has been exposed to a particular pathogen or has received a .

In the primary immune response to the , memory cells are produced from and these persist in the once the disease is overcome.

These memory cells are already primed to to the specific antigen if it is encountered a second time. They divide to rapidly produce antibodies giving to the disease.

A vaccination has a similar response, enhancing immunity.

The secondary reponse gives immunity as the memory cells immediately recognise the pathogen and respond with great rapidity. The secondary reponse generally produces a greater quantity of antibodies and, subsequently, memory cells to enhance immunity.


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