Subunit vaccine

Subunit Vaccine

A Subunit Vaccine (/sʌbˈjuːnɪt ˈvæksiːn/) is a type of vaccine that only uses a part of the pathogen to stimulate an immune response.

Etymology

The term "Subunit Vaccine" is derived from the English words "subunit" meaning a distinct component of something, and "vaccine" from the Latin vaccinus meaning "of or from the cow", as the first vaccines were derived from cowpox used to protect against smallpox.

Definition

Subunit vaccines are made from one or more components of a pathogen. These components, or subunits, are typically proteins but can also be any other type of molecule that the immune system can recognize. The subunits are chosen for their ability to stimulate a strong immune response without causing the disease itself.

Types of Subunit Vaccines

There are several types of subunit vaccines, including:

• Protein Subunit Vaccines: These vaccines use a protein or proteins from the pathogen to stimulate an immune response. Examples include the Hepatitis B vaccine and the Pertussis vaccine.

• Virus-like Particle (VLP) Vaccines: These vaccines use proteins from the pathogen to form particles that resemble the pathogen but do not contain any genetic material, so they cannot cause disease. An example is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

• Polysaccharide Vaccines: These vaccines use polysaccharides, a type of carbohydrate, from the pathogen to stimulate an immune response. Examples include the Pneumococcal vaccine and the Meningococcal vaccine.

• Conjugate Subunit Vaccines: These vaccines link a polysaccharide from the pathogen to a protein to stimulate a stronger immune response. Examples include the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine.

Related Terms

• Vaccine
• Immune Response
• Pathogen
• Protein
• Polysaccharide
• Conjugate Vaccine
• Virus-like Particle

External links

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

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