Immune Sera - Overview

Immune sera is a blood product that contains antibodies produced by the immune system in response to an infection or vaccination. The antibodies present in the immune sera can recognise and bind to specific antigens, such as a virus or bacteria, and help to eliminate them from the body. Immune sera can be collected from individuals who have recovered from an infection or have been vaccinated, and it can be used as a treatment for other individuals who are infected with the same pathogen.

Usage Of Immune Sera

Immune sera can be used in several ways:

• Passive immunisation: Immune sera can be used as a treatment for individuals who are at risk of developing a disease or who have already have an infections or disease condition. This approach provides immediate protection as the antibodies in the serum can bind to and neutralise the pathogen.
• Diagnostic tests: Immune sera can be used to detect the presence of specific antigens or antibodies in a patient's blood. This approach is commonly used in serological tests to diagnose infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and COVID-19.
• Research: Immune sera can be used in research to study the immune response to pathogens and to develop new treatments and vaccines.

Availability Of Immune Sera medicines

The use of immune sera as a treatment is limited by the availability of donors and the potential for adverse reactions. Immune sera, such as Hepatitis B immune globulin and Tetanus immune globulin, are concentrated antibodies used for passive immunization to provide immediate protection against specific infections or toxins. Additionally, the effectiveness of passive immunisation can vary depending on the type of pathogen and the quality of the immune sera medicines.

References:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh?Db=mesh&Cmd=DetailsSearch&Term=%22Immune Sera%22%5BMeSH Terms%5D#:~:text=Serum%20that%20contains%20antibodies.,Year%20introduced%3A%201980
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4300740/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2073565/pdf/brjexppathol00046-0139.pdf