In immune system: Active immunization Active immunization aims to ensure that a sufficient supply of antibodies or T and B cells that react against a potential infectious agent or toxin are present in the body before infection occurs or the toxin is encountered. Once it has been primed,… Read More
antibody production
In immunization Active immunization stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against a particular infectious agent. Active immunity can arise naturally, as when someone is exposed to a pathogen. For example, an individual who recovers from a first case of the measles is immune to further infection… Read More
antimicrobial agents
In antimicrobial agent: Other antimicrobials Vaccination is the administration of harmless amounts of disease-causing microorganisms into animals, including humans, to prevent diseases. (See vaccine.) Sterile filtration usually removes large microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and their spores) from heat-sensitive solutions, but this physical method does not effectively remove small infectious microorganisms… Read More
In vaccine A vaccine can confer active immunity against a specific harmful agent by stimulating the immune system to attack the agent. Once stimulated by a vaccine, the antibody-producing cells, called B cells (or B lymphocytes), remain sensitized and ready to respond to the agent should it ever gain entry to… Read More
viral infectious diseases
In infectious disease: Viruses Vaccination has been the most successful weapon against viral infection; some infections may be treated with antiviral drugs or interferon (proteins that interfere with viral proliferation). Read More
hepatitis B
In digestive system disease: Acute hepatocellular hepatitis …an acute HBV infection; and active immunization, through the injection of noninfective, purified HBV surface antigen. The first method is used following specific exposures that carry a high risk of infection, such as using needles contaminated with HBV particles, the ingestion of body secretions likely to be infected, or the… Read More
influenza
In influenza: Treatment and prevention …more than a year, and yearly vaccination may be recommended, particularly for those individuals who are unusually susceptible to influenza or whose weak condition could lead to serious complications in case of infection. However, routine immunization in healthy people is also recommended. Advances in scientific understanding of influenza and vaccine… Read More
malaria
In malaria: Vaccines and other forms of prevention Other vaccines were also being studied. Of particular interest was a vaccine made of attenuated P. falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ). In 2013 PfSPZ demonstrated early clinical success in protecting healthy volunteers against malaria. Individuals who received the highest doses of PfSPZ gained the highest levels of protection. Read More
measles
In measles: Measles vaccine and eradication efforts …campaigns were initiated to increase vaccination, particularly in less-developed countries. International efforts led to a significant reduction in measles cases and deaths, bringing global elimination of the disease within reach. At the same time, supporting this progress, many wealthier countries, including the United States and some countries in the European… Read More
rabies
In rabies Active immunization with rabies vaccine should also be initiated to allow the patient’s body to make its own antibody. The safest and most effective vaccines are human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV), purified chick embryo cell culture (PCEC), and rabies vaccine adsorbed (RVA). With older vaccines,… Read More