Peptide vaccine

Peptide Vaccine

A Peptide Vaccine (pronounced: pep-tide vak-seen) is a type of vaccine that uses specific peptides to elicit an immune response.

Etymology

The term "peptide" is derived from the Greek word "peptos", meaning "digested", and "vaccine" comes from the Latin "vaccinus", meaning "from cows", a reference to the first vaccines which were derived from cowpox used to immunize against smallpox.

Definition

A Peptide Vaccine is a type of subunit vaccine that uses specific, short sequences of amino acids - peptides - to stimulate the body's immune system. Unlike traditional vaccines, which often use whole pathogens (either live, attenuated, or inactivated) to stimulate an immune response, peptide vaccines use only the specific parts of the pathogen that the immune system needs to recognize.

Mechanism of Action

Peptide vaccines work by presenting these specific peptides to the immune system, which then recognizes them as foreign and mounts an immune response. This response includes the production of T cells and B cells, which can then recognize and attack the pathogen if the individual is exposed in the future.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Peptide vaccines have several advantages over traditional vaccines. They are safer, as they do not contain live pathogens that could potentially cause disease. They are also easier to produce and store, as they do not require the same stringent conditions as live vaccines. However, peptide vaccines also have some disadvantages. They may not elicit as strong or long-lasting an immune response as traditional vaccines, and they may require the use of adjuvants to enhance their effectiveness.

Related Terms

• Vaccine
• Subunit vaccine
• Amino acids
• Immune system
• T cells
• B cells
• Adjuvants

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Peptide vaccine
• Wikipedia's article - Peptide vaccine

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