Swagatika In this article, I briefly describe nucleic acid vaccines, their mechanism of working, and the broad and long-term immune response in humans. Nucleic acid vaccines The vaccines which use genetic material from a harmful pathogen to stimulate an immune response are called nucleic acid vaccines. These vaccines can contain either DNA or RNA. This genetic … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe the recombinant vector vaccines and their advantages over live attenuated vaccines. Live attenuated vaccines Attenuation is a process, where microorganisms lose their ability to cause a significant disease. In other words, attenuation takes away the pathogenicity of microorganisms. Attenuation can be achieved when a pathogenic virus or bacterium is … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe the types of subunit vaccines. Purified macromolecules as vaccines Attenuated or inactivated whole-organism vaccines carry certain risks, prompting the development of alternative options that utilize specific purified macromolecules from pathogens. Currently, three main types of such vaccines are used: capsular polysaccharides, toxoids, and recombinant microbial antigens. Capsular polysaccharides The … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe live attenuated and inactivated vaccines. Vaccines A vaccine is a biological preparation that gives immunity to infectious diseases. The administration of vaccines is called vaccination. Edward Jenner was an English physician and scientist who pioneered the concept of vaccines including creating the smallpox vaccine, the world’s first vaccine. Vaccination is … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how passive and active immunization protects against diseases. Immunization The process of evoking a state of protective immunity against a harmful pathogen is called immunization. When exposed to a live pathogen and recovered, an individual is immunized with the disease. Though this is an effective way to get protective … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe parasitic infections and how trypanosomes apply novel immune evasion strategies. Parasitic infections Parasites are a vast category, from unicellular protozoan eukaryotes to macroscopic worms. The parasitic world is so diverse that it is difficult to generalize. Most eukaryotic protozoan parasites inhabit intracellular spaces in their human hosts for one … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how innate immunity and acquired immunity play an important role in controlling fungal infections. Fungal infections Fungi are diverse and ubiquitous, possessing characteristics of both plants and animals. They depend on external sources for nutrients. Fungi have their kingdom and provide many beneficial services for humans. They ferment bread, … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe different soil microorganisms that constitute the soil microbial flora. Soil The soil is the land surface of the earth, which provides the substratum for plant and animal life. The soil represents a favorable habitat for microorganisms and is inhabited by many microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses, and … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe the role of G protein-coupled receptors in vertebrate olfaction and gustation. G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) These receptors act through a guanosine nucleotide-binding protein or G-protein family member. Signal transduction is defined through three essential components. The three essential components can be described as a plasma membrane receptor with seven … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe the role of G protein-coupled receptors in vision. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) These receptors act through a guanosine nucleotide-binding protein or G protein, family member. Signal transduction is defined through three essential components. The three essential components can be described as a plasma membrane receptor with seven transmembrane helical … Read more >>