Choose one concept in our lesson today, give a brief explanation about the concept and cite how you would apply this learning in your everyday life.
-
Among all the concepts learned, immunity through vaccinations served as the personally most useful and intriguing. As a child, I never really understood nor wondered why I had to take vaccinations often. Knowing that adaptive immunity creates a memory for previously encountered antigens to develop its defense against it, vaccinations are a good example to strengthen the body’s defense toward certain antigens as they provide a more effective response once encountered again. Vaccinations help strengthen our adaptive immunity as they create memory cells for certain antigens without causing the disease (artificial active immunity). Hence, it is important to stay up-to-date with vaccination needs as they will serve as additional protection for various disease causing antigens.
Tortora, G. J. & Derrickson, B. (2017). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Fifteenth edition; Wiley Loose-Leaf Print Companion. Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.