Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Meningococcal Disease, Sanofi Pasteur
23 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
A bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby"s head (fontanel) Stiffness in the baby"s body and neck. Skin rash in cases of meningococcal meningitis. A loose, relatively unstructured network of polymers that cover the surface of some bacteria. Main role in meningitis is to protect bacteria from the complement system. Complement - innate immune system serum proteins (e. g. c3b) Encapsulated bacteria are less likely to be opsonized by through the complement system. An effective host response against capsules is the generation of antibodies from b cells that can recognize the capsule. Antibodies that recognize the capsule promote opsonization and phagocytosis. Capsules can therefore be used as vaccines. Polysaccharide vaccines do not provide long-term memory because they are t cell- independent. T cells provide help to b cells long-term memory. But, t cells respond to proteins/peptides, not sugars. Conjugate vaccine: polysaccharide conjugated to protein carrier. Colonizes the nose and throat asymptomatic carriage is common.
