IMMUNOPROPYLAXIS

Definition

Immunization is the process of producing a state

of immunity in a subject in order to protect against
infectious diseases.

This can be achieved by active or passive

immunization
Passive Immunisation
Natural/Artificial mode
Advantages/Disadvantages
Active Immunisation
Natural/Artificial mode
Advantages/Disadvantages
Different types of vaccines
Attenutaed, Inactivated, Purified
macromolecules (Toxoids, Polysaccharide Ag,
Recombinant Ag), Recombinant Vector
vaccines, Synthetic peptides
 Immunization

Passive Active

Natural mode Artificial mode

Passive Immunisation

2. Natural- MaternalAb

2. Artificial- Injection of pre-formed Ab into a

recipient for protection against a specific
disease

Source of Ab: horse serum or pooled human

serum
PASSIVE IMMUNISATION

DISEASE

Tetanus

Snake bite

Rabies

Hepatitis A & B
Advantages
It provides immediate (rapid) protection (24-48 hrs)
if given i.m.

Disadvantages
1. Immunity provided is not long lasting
(no memory cells)

2. Horse anti-serum can provoke serum sickness

(Type III hypersensitivity) and IgE-mediated allergy
(Type 1 Hypersensitivity)
 Immunization

Passive Active

Natural mode Artificial mode

Active Immunization

3. Natural-Infection

2. Artificial-Vaccines (preparations) administered

to the individual to induce an immunologically-
specific resistance to infectious diseases

The immune system is stimulated & memory cells

are produced
 IMMUNIZATION

P a s s iv e A c ti v e

N a tu ra l A rti f i c i a l N a tu ra l A rti f i c i a l
e .g . m a te rn a l a n ti b o d y Im m u n e s e ru m e .g . n a tu ra l i n fe cti o n v a c c in e s
e .g . te t a n u s a n ti - t o x i n e .g . te ta n u s to x o i d
 T yp e s o f V acci n es

W h o le O r g a n i s m V a cci n es P u r i f i e d M cr o m o l e cu l e s R e com b in a n t V a cci n es S yn t h e t i c P e pt i e ds

A t e nu at e d I n a ct i v a t e d A n t ig e ns V e ct o r s
Advantages of active immunization

5. Immunity provided is long lasting (memory

cells)

2. Can boost the immunity (2o response)

Disadvantages
It provides slow onset protection (2-4 weeks)
WHOLE ORGANISM VACCINES
Live attenuated vaccines
Modified pathogens-they lose their pathogenicity
but maintain their ability to grow and multiply in
an immunized host
e.g. BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin,
Mycobacterium bovis)

Inactivated vaccines
Pathogen is killed by heat or chemical treatment
(e.g. formaldehyde, alkylating Agents)

Pathogen can not replicate in the host but

maintain its Ag
Comparison of attenuated (live) and inactivated
(killed) vaccines

Characteristics Attenuated Inactivated

Production Virulent pathogen Inactivated by

is grown under chemicals or
abnormal culture irradiation
Booster Generally only 1 Multiple boosters
requirement booster
Relative Stability Less stable More stable

Type of Immunity Both HI & CMI Mainly HI

induced
Reversion tendency May revert to Can not revert to
virulence virulence
 Live attenuated vaccine

Disease
Bacteria Tuberculosis, BCG used
Viruses Polio (Sabin)
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
 Killed (whole organism) vaccines

Disease
Bacteria Pertussis
Cholera
Viruses Polio (Salk)
Rabies
Purified macro-molecular vaccines
These contain specific components of the pathogen
rather than using the whole organism
e.g. 1. Toxoids of diphtheria & tetanus

2. Meningococcal & pneumococcal polysaccharides

Disadvantages:
1. The polysaccharide vaccine does not activate Th
cells, only IgM-producing B cells are induced (T-
independent reaction)

Improved vaccine-conjugate the vaccine to a protein

carrier to activate Th cells

2. It is difficult to obtain large quantities of purified

Macromolecules.
 Recombinant Antigen vaccines
The gene coding for an important antigen of a virus
or a bacterium is isolated & expressed in bacteria or
Yeast cells
This methodology provides us with large quantity of
the antigens e.g. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen-
coding gene inserted into an E. coli plasmid,
expressed & purified
Disadvantage
The vaccine is an exogenous antigen, induce humoral
Immunity & not CMI
 Recombinant Vector vaccines

A relevant gene is transferred by genetic

engineering from a virulent pathogen into a vector
(vehicle) e.g. vaccinia virus, BCG.

The whole recombinant vector is given for

active immunization

This induces both HMI & CMI to the introduced

gene product.
 Vaccinia virus

Foreign gene Recombinant vaccinia virus

 Synthetic Peptide vaccines
Peptides are chosen from a relevant segment
(epitope) of an antigen of a pathogen.
Then, this peptide is synthesized and used for
vaccination.
These peptides can stimulate protective Ab
response.

e.g. hepatitis B, Diphtheria,

 DNA vaccines

Genes encoding for proteins of pathogenic origin

are inserted in plasmids which serve as the vehicle
for producing expressed proteins in an individual

They lead to the production of Ab, Th cells,

cytokines, activation of CTL responses
 Advantages
 There is no risk of infection

 The protein is produced in native form without

the risk of denaturation during purification
 DNA is very stable
Active immunization of children usually requires
multiple boosters at timed intervals to achieve
effective immunity
Vaccines restricted to certain groups
Disease Eligible group

Hepatitis B At risk (medical &

nursing staff)
Meningitis, yellow Travellers
fever, typhoid, cholera

Influenza At risk, elderly

Rabies At risk (animal

workers), post-exposure