Vaccination -vs- immune memory

[Guest]

Just a note expanding on the on-going debate in many domestic animal circles on the need for annual vaccination.

 

This is a short extract describing a scientific study commissioned by the Home Office where immune memory is discussed.

 

 

04september-2006

 

368: Studies on immune memory and regulation

Date: 29th Aug 2006

 

This programme of work is intended to extend our understanding of immunological memory and immune regulation with the attendant benefits that may follow for human and animal health.

 

The reason vaccines work is because the immune system exhibits memory, it responds better the second time it sees a microbe. How it does this is still hotly debated. For instance, immune memory is very long-lasting, however, the cells in the immune system are always under severe competition for space and survival, as every time an immune response occurs more cells are made; so how can memory cells survive for long periods? This is one of the questions that will be addressed in this project. Another question relates to how flexible in modality the memory response is, eg. will the memory response be the same as the primary response and if not how is this achieved? It’s important that it has this flexibility is maintained as otherwise memory may be unable to protect us in all situations and may cause damaging reactions (eg. by making inappropriate inflammatory cytokines).