BCG VACCINE Meaning and
Definition
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The BCG vaccine, commonly referred to as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, is an immunization method used to protect against tuberculosis (TB) and sometimes other mycobacterial infections. It is produced using a weakened form of Mycobacterium bovis, a bacterium closely related to the bacteria that cause TB in humans. This attenuated strain of M. bovis is created through a long process of subculturing and passage, resulting in a vaccine that is less virulent but retains some of its immunogenic properties.
Administration of the BCG vaccine stimulates the body's immune response, triggering the production of protective antibodies and the activation of T-cells, which form a crucial part of the immune system's defense against TB. It primarily aims to prevent severe forms of TB, notably miliary TB and TB meningitis, which primarily affect infants and young children.
BCG vaccination is commonly given to infants at birth or during early childhood in countries with a high burden of tuberculosis. However, its effectiveness in preventing pulmonary TB, the most common form of the disease in adults, is more varied and is heavily dependent on factors such as the strain of TB prevalent in the region and the age at which vaccination is administered.
Despite its limitations, the BCG vaccine remains an integral component of global TB control strategies, particularly in areas with high TB prevalence. Apart from its intended purpose of preventing TB, recent research has suggested its potential benefits in reducing other respiratory infections and even offering protection against certain non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.
Common Misspellings for BCG VACCINE
- vcg vaccine
- ncg vaccine
- hcg vaccine
- gcg vaccine
- bxg vaccine
- bvg vaccine
- bfg vaccine
- bdg vaccine
- bcf vaccine
- bcv vaccine
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- bch vaccine
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- bcg faccine
- bcg vzccine
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Etymology of BCG VACCINE
The acronym BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. It refers to a vaccine that is used for the prevention of tuberculosis (TB). The etymology of the term traces back to its developers, Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin.
In the early 20th century, Albert Calmette, a French physician, and Camille Guérin, a veterinarian, began working on a vaccine to combat tuberculosis. They derived the vaccine from a strain of bacteria called Mycobacterium bovis, which is closely related to the bacterium that causes tuberculosis in humans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Calmette and Guérin attenuated (weakened) the Mycobacterium bovis strain through a long process of passaging it continuously on a culture medium over 13 years. This process reduced its virulence but maintained its ability to stimulate an immune response.
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