Immunity, Immunization and Antibiotic-Resistance

Immunity, Immunization and
Antibiotic-Resistance

Table of Contents
Immunity, Immunization and Antibiotic-Resistant.........................................................................1
1. Define...........................................................................................................................................3
2. Terms explained with appropriate antibody formation................................................................3
3. Measles vaccination and the impact of the measles/MMR mass immunization programme in
the UK..............................................................................................................................................5
4. Long-term effects of antibiotics on pathogen resistance.............................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

1. Define
a) Immunity
The body of an individual is exposed to many pathogens every day which make it
susceptible to get infected by the disease. These include disease causing pathogens like viruses
and bacteria. On the surface of pathogens there are antigens which stimulate the immune system
within the human body. Immunity is defined as a state characterized by the ability to resist a
particular disease through prevention of development of a microorganism (Fitzgerald and Kagan,
2020).
b) Immunization
Immunization means the process involving the use of a vaccine for making a person
resistant to an infectious disease. Vaccines are used to stimulate the immune system of the body
against the pathogens which are causing the illness (Boyce and et al., 2019).
2. Terms explained with appropriate antibody formation.
a) Natural active immunity:
When the body is exposed to the pathogens, it may catch the disease. But, the ability of the body
to naturally form the antibodies to fight against the pathogen is referred to as the natural active
immunity of the body.
The pathogens come in contact with the body and they are gradually transferred from the
skin to the mucous membranes. It is here that the white blood cells containing B-cells becomes
active and form antibodies to compete against the pathogens. The formation of the antigen might
take days or weeks but the effect is life – long. The vaccine does the same thing, they stimulate
the immune system to fight against the disease causing pathogens. Example: when a person
recovers from infection developed from Hepatitis A Virus, there is development of natural active
immunity which leads to life- long protection.
b)Natural passive immunity