Premunition

Premunition, also known as infection-immunity, is a host response that protects against high numbers of parasite and illness without eliminating the infection.[1] This type of immunity is relatively rapid, progressively acquired, short-lived, and partially effective.[2] For malaria, premunition is maintained by repeated antigen exposure from infective bites.[2] Thus, if an individual departs from an endemic area, he or she may lose premunition and become susceptible to malaria.[2]

Antibody action contributes to premunition.[3] However, premunition is probably much more complex than simple antibody and antigen interaction. [2] In the case of malaria, the sporozoite and merozoite stages of Plasmodium elicit the antibody response which leads to premunition. [3] Immunoglobulin E targets the parasites and leads to eosinophil degranulation which releases major basic protein that damages the parasites, and other factors elicit a local inflammatory response.[3] However, Plasmodium can change its surface antigens, so the development of an antibody repertoire that can recognize multiple surface antigens is important for premunition to be achieved.[4]

Premunition has not been well-studied, and although it likely occurs broadly, it is mainly emphasized for its role in malaria, tuberculosis, syphilis and relapsing fever.[5]

Premunization is the artificial induction of premunition.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ryan, Kenneth J.; Ray, C. George, eds. (2010). Sherris Medical Microbiology (5 ed.). ISBN 978-0-07-160402-4.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jean Mouchet; Pierre Carnevale; Sylvie Manguin (2008). Biodiversity of Malaria in the World. John Libbey Eurotext. p. 41. ISBN 978-2-7420-0616-8. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Nandini Shetty; Julian W. Tang; Julie Andrews (19 May 2009). Infectious Disease: Pathogenesis, Prevention and Case Studies. John Wiley & Sons. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4051-3543-6. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  4. ↑ Mandell, Gerald L.; Bennett, John E. (John Eugene); Dolin, Raphael. (2010). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious disease. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. p. 3444. ISBN 978-0-443-06839-3.
  5. ↑ Kothari, M. L.; Lopa a, M. (1976). "The nature of immunity". Journal of postgraduate medicine 22 (2): 50–58. PMID 1032677.
  6. ↑ H. (CON) Aspock (3 January 2008). Encyclopedia of Parasitology. Springer. p. 150. ISBN 978-3-540-48994-8. Retrieved 23 June 2012.