BRAINCAKEArtificial Passive Immunity
Artificial passive immunity is given by injecting ready-made antibodies into a person. The person's own lymphocytes are not activated, so no plasma cells or memory cells are produced.
The antibodies are collected from the blood of people or animals that already have high levels of them. For example, horses or sheep can be injected with small, safe doses of snake venom; they make antibodies, which are then extracted from their blood plasma and purified. Monoclonal antibodies can also be made in the laboratory.
Examples of use:
• antivenom after a bite from a venomous snake
• tetanus immunoglobulin (antitoxin) for a deep, dirty wound in someone who is not vaccinated
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Key terms in this lesson
- monoclonal antibody
- Antibodies produced from a single clone of cells, so they are all identical and specific to one antigen.
More in Response to Infection
- The Cell-Mediated Response
- Cytotoxic T Cells
- Primary and Secondary Immune Response
- Types of Immunity
- Artificial Active Immunity - Vaccines
- Herd Immunity
- Eradicating Disease
- The Pros and Cons of Vaccination
All 20 lessons in Response to Infection · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics