Why are toxoid vaccines an effective means for reducing bacterial illness?
A) The toxin causes the damage, not the bacteria.
B) Bacteria have to die before the toxins can cause damage.
C) The toxins stimulate the immune system better than bacteria.
D) Bacteria have the toxins on their surface, so an immune response to the toxins will neutralize both.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Toxoid vaccines are effective because the toxin causes the damage to the host, not the bacteria that released the toxin. By stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies to the toxin, the toxin will be neutralized before it can harm the host. As all toxins are not endotoxins, bacteria do not always have to die before the toxin is released. And even though the immune response to the toxin is no greater than a potential response to the bacteria, the toxin is the main damaging agent, and focusing the immune response on the toxin significantly reduces host illness.

Why Are Toxoid Vaccines an Effective Means for Reducing Bacterial