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Question:

Which one of the following statements is correct with respect to immunity?

The antibodies against small pox pathogen are produced by T-lymphocytes.

Rejection of a kidney graft is the function of B-lymphocytes.

Preformed antibodies need to be injected to treat the bite by a viper snake.

Antibodies are protein molecules each of which has four light chains.

Solution:

The principle of immunisation or vaccination is based on the property of memory of the immune system. In vaccination, a preparation of antigenic proteins of a pathogen or inactivated/weakened pathogen (vaccine) are introduced into the body. The antibodies produced in the body against these antigens would neutralise the pathogenic agents during actual infection. The vaccines also generate memory B and T-cells that recognise the pathogen quickly on subsequent exposure and overwhelm the invaders with a massive production of antibodies. If a person is infected with some deadly microbes to which quick immune response is required as in tetanus, we need to directly inject the preformed antibodies, or antitoxin (a preparation containing antibodies to the toxin). Even in cases of snakebites, the injection which is given to the patients, contain preformed antibodies against the snake venom. This type of immunisation is called as passive immunisation.