Immunologic adjuvant
Immunologic Adjuvant
Immunologic adjuvant (pronounced: im-yuh-noh-loj-ik ad-juh-vuhnt) is a substance that enhances the body's immune response to an antigen. The term "adjuvant" comes from the Latin word "adjuvare", which means to help or aid.
Definition
An Immunologic adjuvant is a component that bolsters the immune response of the host organism to an antigen. It is often used in vaccines to enhance their efficacy. The adjuvant can increase the body's immune response to a vaccine, making it more effective and long-lasting.
Types of Immunologic Adjuvants
There are several types of immunologic adjuvants, including:
- Aluminum salts (also known as alum) - This is the most commonly used adjuvant in human vaccines.
- Oil emulsions - These are used in some veterinary and experimental human vaccines.
- Bacterial derivatives - These include substances like Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), which is derived from bacteria and used in some vaccines.
Function
The primary function of an immunologic adjuvant is to stimulate the immune system and increase the response to a vaccine. This can be achieved by:
- Enhancing the presentation of the antigen
- Stimulating lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system
- Inducing the release of cytokines
Related Terms
- Antigen - A substance that induces an immune response in the body.
- Vaccine - A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
- Cytokines - Small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Immunologic adjuvant
- Wikipedia's article - Immunologic adjuvant
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