Cl.tetani produces a small amount of very potent toxin and the amount
needed to cause neurological effects and death are very small. The
immune system therefore only gets a very small / short exposure to the
Cl.tetani toxin and does not have the chance to develop immunity. The
tetanus vaccines are usually composed of inactivated toxins (toxoids)
mixed with an adjuvent, this allows the immune system to be exposed to
the immunological sites on the toxin for a longer time resulting in the
immune system developing a complex of immunoglobulins towards the toxin
Scott Minns
In article <YQQ43.418$Xr4.7076 at c01read02-admin.service.talkway.com>,
"Sebasi" <pienaar at omen.net.au> wrote:
> I am very interested in understanding how the tetanus vaccine produces
> immunity, in light of the fact that the disease itself does not
produce
> immunity after recovery.
>> If anyone can take the time to explain the pathway of the toxin once
> injected into the body, and how this produces immunity, I would be
most
> grateful.
>> Sebastiana
> --
> Posted via Talkway - http://www.talkway.com> Exchange ideas on practically anything (tm).
>>
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