| Mark Probert 2005-09-30, 1:15 pm |
| Rich wrote:
> "PeterB" <pkm@mytrashmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1128005542.007435.54060@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> The word "titer" is related to "titration" and refers to a method of
> determining and reporting the amount of something in something else, most
> commonly used to report the amount of a specific antibody in blood.
>
> Since antibodies are the second line of defense against pathogens (after
> barriers such as skin and mucous membranes), they are one of the most
> important components of immunity. Antibodies are specific to the pathogens
> that they attack, and are produced in response to a challenge from that
> pathogen. When you get a disease like chickenpox or measles, or influenza,
> your body "learns" to produce the antibodies specific for that disease. The
> number of the antibodies in your blood ready to immediately attack a
> re-infection by that disease can diminish over time, but the body also keeps
> a "library" of the plans for manufacture of those specific antibodies in
> specialized lymphocytes (white blood cells).
>
> So the titer of a particular antibody is not equivalent to immunity, but IS
> a good indication of the immune system's readiness to defend against a
> specific disease challenge.
>
> Immunization is not the same as immunity. Immunization is the stimulation of
> the immune system to produce antibodies to a specific pathogen without
> causing the attending pathology. Whether the data about the pathogen came
> from a disease-causing invasion of the bugs or from a vaccine without the
> disease is irrelevant; the resultant immunity is the same (or nearly so).
>
> I hope this clears up any misunderstanding of Mark's and my statements.
I hope Petey is happy with your answer. He had a hissy fit when I
responded. These alties sure do have control problems.
|