Antibodies are special proteins designed to block germs, like viruses or bacteria, from entering our cells. Our bodies generate antibodies as part of the adaptive immune response, so the antibodies are specific to a particular germ. Antitoxins are mixtures of antibodies against toxins produced by some bacteria. Before a vaccine was available, diphtheria antitoxin was commonly used to treat people with this life-threatening disease. In 1925, a diphtheria epidemic swept through the town of Nome, Alaska. Dogsled teams were employed to swiftly deliver the critically needed antitoxin with its live-saving antibodies. The teams involved in this effort were heroic and critical to limiting the consequences of this outbreak.

Play a Kahoot! trivia game based on this animation. Visit http://www.vaccinemakers.org/trivia.

Watch the animation, “The Adaptive Immune System,” to see how the immune system generates antibodies that are specific for a particular germ and find out which parts of the immune system are involved in this important process:    • The Adaptive Immune System  .

Animation created by and for the Vaccine Makers Project.
The Vaccine Makers Project gratefully acknowledges the ongoing collaboration and partnership with XVIVO, creator of medical animations and scientific media: https://xvivo.com.
Copyright © 2016, Medical History Pictures, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Vaccine Makers Project (VMP) is the classroom-based program of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (VEC at CHOP). The Center’s team is composed of scientists, physicians, mothers and fathers devoted to the study and prevention of infectious diseases. The Center was launched in October 2000 to provide accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. The VMP program is committed to public education about vaccine science via scientifically supported, historically accurate, and emotionally compelling content.

Access the VMP’s free classroom materials: http://www.VaccineMakers.org.

Find information and resources related to vaccines and their safety: http://vaccine.chop.edu.

Learn more about the award-winning documentary for which the original animations were created. The documentary tells the compelling story of one of the world’s most accomplished scientists, Maurice Hilleman: http://www.HillemanFilm.com.