Immunology behind vaccine

The concept of natural immunity to

infection was born

The antibodies theory was formulated

Passive immunotherapy of diphtheria

with anti-diphtheria toxin antibodies
discovered immune serum

Host cells that ingest and destroy

invading microbes were discovered and
called phagocytes

Microorganisms were identified as the

true cause of infectious diseases
Jenner had no knowledge of microorganisms and viruses, but progress in microbiology from the late
19th century onwards led to the modern concept of communicable diseases. Further advances in
vaccinology were gained from an understanding of what caused infectious diseases and the science of
aetiology and host/pathogen interactions.

In the late 19th century, key principles of the immune response were elucidated. Host cells that ingest
and destroy invading microbes were identified and named phagocytes. The concept of serum antitoxin,
or immune serum was also established.

In 1924, chemical inactivation was applied to bacterial toxins to produce toxoids of diphtheria and
tetanus. The tetanus toxin was transformed with formaldehyde and heat into a safer, non-toxic product,
without changing its immunogenic potential. Also, the antibody theory was formulated.

This led to the concept of natural immunity to infection, which was indispensable for vaccine design.

Reference:

Bonanni et al. Chapter 1 in: Garon et al. Understanding Modern Vaccines, Perspectives in vaccinology,
Vol 1, Amsterdam. Elsevier 2011;p124
 Ralph M Steinman (2011):
discovery of the dendritic cell
John Franklin Enders, and its role in adaptive immunity
Emil von Behring
Thomas Huckle Weller,
(1901): discovery
Frederick Chapman Robbins
of antibodies and
(1954): discovery of the ability
passive
of poliomyelitis viruses to grow
immunotherapy of Bruce A Beutler, Jules A
in cultures of various types of
diphtheria Hoffmann (2011): discoveries
tissue
concerning the activation of innate
immunity

Max Theiler (1951): discoveries Harald zur Hausen (2008) for his
concerning yellow fever and how to discovery of human papilloma viruses
combat it causing cervical cancer
Immune cells

Innate immune Adaptive immune

system system
+
Macrophage Granulocyte CD4 T-cell

+
Dendritic cell Mast cell CD8 T-cell

NK cell Monocyte B-cell

Where are the innate and adaptive immune systems located?

Innate immune system and Adaptive immune system

chemical/physical barriers

Mucous
membrane
and secreted Adenoid
enzymes Tonsils
Ciliated Thymus
epithelium
Thoracic duct
Stomach
acids, soluble
peptides and
mucus Spleen
secreting Large
epithelial cells intesti Peyers patch
ne in small
Mucus, intestine
peptides and
stratified
squamous
epithelium

Resident and Lymph

circulating node and
innate immune lymphatic
cells s Bone marrow

Skin and
secreted
enzymes
The role of the innate immune response

Not dangerous
(food and air-born Ignorance/
innocuous antigens,) no response

Immunological Humoral effectors

Antigens
risk assessment Antibodies

Potentially Response
dangerous
(virus, bacteria,)

Cellular effectors
Cytokines and CTLs

Choice of effectors
Innate immune Adaptive immune and establishment
response response of memory
Vigilance/surveillance and detection of danger
Adaptive immunity: the important role of helper T-cells in recruiting, training and deploying adaptive
immune cells
Cellular vs. humoral adaptive immune response against intra- and extra-cellular pathogens
Antibody-mediated attack strategies
Key steps in immune response to pathogens
The kinetics of primary and recall (memory) immune responses
General mode of action of an adjuvant
General mode of action of an adjuvant