Assignment task:
Textbook: Parham P. 2015. The Immune System. 4th ed.New York (NY): Garland Science. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4466-7
For some questions, you will be required to reference your source(s). Use CSE citation style.
What are the 4 classes of pathogens that cause infectious disease? Give an example of each kind of pathogen (common name or species name).
The eradication of smallpox (Variola) is one of medicine's greatest success stories. Through a global program of immunization, the virus was officially declared eradicated in 1980 (other than stocks of the virus held for research purposes in the US and Russia). See History of Medicine, Smallpox: A Great and Terrible Scourge from the US National Library of Medicine, for an account of the history of immunization against smallpox and answer the following questions:
What is "variolation"? What are the risks associated with this procedure but why was it still a recommended practice? Compare the percentage of fatalities among variolated individuals and those who contracted smallpox naturally.
How did the term "vaccination" get its name? Who is generally credited for performing the first vaccinations? When?
When was the last known case of smallpox (variola minor) contracted? Where?
Explain the term "herd immunity" and briefly explain how individuals that have not been immunized against a disease may still be protected from it (a couple of sentences will be sufficient).
Briefly explain the features of humoral and cellular immunity in both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, giving examples.
Briefly explain the features of and distinctions between innate and adaptive immunity, including intensity of response, memory and the components (cells, molecules) involved.
Explain "clonal expansion" of lymphocytes and how it contributes to the features of adaptive immunity, such as specificity, elimination of pathogens and memory.
Briefly explain the difference between passive and active immunity and give an example of each. Which one provides a "memory" of the infection?