Abstract
The concept of immunity has been known for centuries, but it is not until recently that great strides have been made in more deeply understanding the processes behind this. In this chapter we cover the history of immunology and more recent discoveries and concepts. Immunology has grown into a complex area of study involving many cell types, cytokines, and signaling cascades. Understanding this complexity is vital in designing interventions to fight infection and prevent disease. This is particularly true in modern vaccine design where better understanding can lead to increased vaccine efficacy and safety. Although innate immunity is greatly important in combatting pathogens and initiating immunity, here we focus largely on the adaptive immune system and its role in immune function. We review the initiation of the immune response and the role and function of both T and B lymphocytes in this response. By the end of this chapter, you should have a broad understanding of the process of immunity and how we take advantage of this when vaccinating against a pathogen. Finally, you should have a solid grasp of the challenges involved in designing an effective vaccine and the implication this has on world health and disease eradication.
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Highton, A.J., Kemp, R.A. (2015). Immunological Background. In: Foged, C., Rades, T., Perrie, Y., Hook, S. (eds) Subunit Vaccine Delivery. Advances in Delivery Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1417-3_1
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