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CAIE A-Level Biology AS 11.2 Antibodies and Vaccination Questions

Practise antibody and vaccination questions by linking binding-site structure to specificity, sequencing hybridoma production and classifying immunity types.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Biology 9700
Level
AS

Exam points

  • link antibody variable regions, hinge flexibility and antigen-binding sites to specificity
  • sequence hybridoma production from antigen injection to selected monoclonal clones
  • classify active, passive, natural and artificial immunity using antibodies and memory cells

Covered syllabus points

11.2.1—Antibody molecular structure and functions11.2.2—Hybridoma method11.2.3—Monoclonal antibody uses11.2.4—Types of immunity11.2.5—Vaccines11.2.6—Vaccination programmes

Question 1

[Maximum number: 4]

Fig. 4.1 is a transmission electron micrograph of the bacterium that causes cholera, Vibrio cholerae.
The flagellum shown in Fig. 4.1 allows movement of the bacterium within the gut and may also function to help it to bind to an intestinal epithelial cell. The organism does not enter the cell but the toxin it releases can enter and cause damage. Large quantities of water, chloride ions and sodium ions are lost from the cell.

Fig. 4.1

Fig. 4.1

People with symptoms of cholera have severe watery diarrhoea and as a result can become very dehydrated.

Question (a)

(a)

Most people who have recovered from cholera rarely become ill again from the disease. In these people, antibodies have been identified that will bind either to the cholera toxin, or to the bacterial flagellum, or to the main bacterial cell.

Explain why the antibodies are different, each one specific to its target.

[ 3 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Evidence suggests that newborn babies of mothers who have had cholera have immunity to the disease.

State precisely the type of immunity these babies are likely to have.

[ 1 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 8]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease of the joints in the human body.

Question (a)

(a)

The symptoms of RA include inflammation of the joints which causes pain and difficulty in movement of the joint.

The inflammation is triggered by a chemical known as TNF- α\alpha, produced by macrophages.
One approach to the treatment of RA is by the use of monoclonal antibody against TNF- α\alpha.
Fig. 3.1 is a diagram of an antibody molecule.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

[ 3 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Name the parts of the antibody molecule labelled P, Q and R.

P

Q
R

[ 3 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Outline how monoclonal antibody against TNF- α\alpha is produced.

[ 3 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Suggest how monoclonal antibody against TNF- α\alpha can reduce the symptoms of RA.

[ 2 ]
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