Immunological memory as the fundamentals of vaccines

Abstract

The immune system also called as the defense system involves many different cells that workas soldiers in an individual. These immune cells provide protection against various pathogens.For better protection of an individual the immune systems has the ability to memorize orremember the pathogen. This ability is known as immunological memory. With the help ofimmunological memory the immune memory cells remember the antigen and are prepared ifthere is an encounter with the antigen in future. The immunological memory can be developedagainst certain strains with the help of different types of vaccines. Such types of vaccinesthat are currently being used to save lives are, Live attenuated vaccines, Toxoid vaccines,Subunit vaccines, Glyco-conjugated vaccines, and Killed/Inactivated vaccines. These vaccineshow different efficiency. Hence, the immunological memory generated after a singlevaccination may wear off with time. Multiple numbers of shots are required for thedevelopment of long term memory. All these types of vaccines vary from each other in theirmanufacturing and also in their mechanism of providing long term immunological memory.They show many pros and cons but their advantages are greater than their disadvantages.Thus, are preferred to be used for the betterment of mankind.