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An outbreak of measles occurred in Ireland during the summer of 2016 - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 14(b) - 2017
Question 14(b)
An outbreak of measles occurred in Ireland during the summer of 2016. Name a group of people who would be most at risk if exposed to such an outbreak. (ii) What is ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:An outbreak of measles occurred in Ireland during the summer of 2016 - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 14(b) - 2017
Step 1
Name a group of people who would be most at risk if exposed to such an outbreak.
Answer
The group most at risk of measles exposure includes:
- Non-vaccinated individuals: Those who have not received the measles vaccine are particularly vulnerable to infection.
- Babies: Infants, especially those under 12 months old, have immature immune systems and may not have received the vaccination yet.
- Individuals with weakened immune systems: This includes patients undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or those with conditions such as HIV/AIDS, making them more susceptible to infections.
Step 2
What is a vaccine and how does it result in immunity?
Answer
A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. Vaccines typically contain an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins, or one of its surface proteins.
How it results in immunity:
- The vaccine introduces an antigen into the body, which is a component of the pathogen, stimulating the immune system.
- This exposure leads to the production of antibodies specific to the antigen, establishing immunological memory.
- Upon subsequent exposure to the actual pathogen, the immune system can recognize and combat the pathogen more effectively.
Step 3
Step 4
Describe the role of each of the T cells referred to in part (iii) above.
Answer
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Helper T Cells: They play a crucial role in recognizing antigens presented by other immune cells, activating killer T cells, and stimulating B cells to produce antibodies.
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Killer T Cells: These cells are responsible for recognizing and directly attacking infected or cancerous cells, ensuring the elimination of harmful cells from the body.
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Suppressor T Cells: Their function is to regulate or suppress the immune response, helping to maintain the body's tolerance to self-antigens and preventing autoimmune reactions.