Question

Hepatitis B and Herpes virus vaccines are

• A. First generation vaccines
• B. Second generation vaccines
• C. Third generation vaccines
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Second generation vaccines

First generation vaccines carry the live, 'damaged' or dead entire organism. They impart immunity by inducing the antibody immune response and the immune resposes entailing killer and helper T-cells. Since the attenuated vaccines can still turn into the toxic form and could cause disease; the second generation vaccines were developed which are made up of protein antigens or recombinant proteins and function by inducing antibody responses, but not killer T cell responses. The third generation vaccines are the DNA vaccines which have a round small modified bacterial DNA and release one or more particular antigens. The Hepatitis B and Herpes virus vaccines carry hepatitis B surface antigen and thus are the second generation vaccines.