Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Interview Questions and Answers for freshers on “Immunological Preparations – Classification of Vaccines”.
1. DPT is a combination vaccination.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: DPT (also DTP and DTwP) is a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus. A combination vaccine is one which can provide immunogenicity to more than one type of disease. Some more examples of recombination vaccines are DTaP, Hep-B.
2. The only recombinant vaccine that proved highly effective and is currently approved for human use is the vaccine against __________
a) Rubella virus
b) Poxvirus
c) HPV infection
d) Dengue virus
Answer: c
Clarification: The only recombinant vaccine that proved highly effective and is currently approved for human use is the vaccine against HBV infection. It includes the recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), made by DNA-transfected yeast or mammalian cells.
3. Who developed the Hepatitis B vaccine?
a) Pasteur
b) Salk
c) Jenner
d) Pablo DT Valenzuela
Answer: d
Clarification: Pablo DT Valenzuela, Research Director of Chiron Corporation: succeeded in making the antigen in yeast. Thus they invented the world’s first recombinant vaccine. The blood-derived hepatitis B vaccine was withdrawn then from the marketplace.
4. Virus proteins have been expressed in _______________
a) Bacterial and yeast cells
b) Yeast and mammalian cells
c) Mammalian cells
d) Mammalian, yeast and bacterial cells
Answer: d
Clarification: Virus proteins have been expressed in bacteria, yeast, mammalian cells, and viruses. This helps in the generation of vaccines. Bacterial cells help in rapid growth and thus the rapid yield of the vaccine. Yeast gives us a post-translational modification. Mammalian cells are hard to culture but some of the proteins can easily be manufactured in mammalian cell culture.
5. GARDASIL is an example of ____________
a) DNA vaccines
b) Recombinant vector vaccines
c) Live vector vaccines
d) RNA vaccines
Answer: b
Clarification: The Hepatitis B vaccine currently used in the United States called Gardasil is a recombinant vaccine. A recombinant vector vaccine is manufactured by the recombinant DNA process. It can be effective against many more than one form of the disease.
6. Gardasil protects against which of the HPV types _________
a) HPV- 6, 11, 16, 18
b) HPV – 5, 6, 16, 18
c) HPV – 1, 2, 5, 11
d) HPV – 1, 2, 16, 18
Answer: a
Clarification: There are various strains of HPV and Gardasil protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in both males and females. These can then be purified and used in the vaccine. After their invention of GARDASIL, breast cancers at initial stages are completely curable.
7. The HPV protein-encoding genes are expressed in _______ vectors to create large amounts of protein.
a) Bacteria
b) Yeast
c) Virus
d) Protozoa
Answer: b
Clarification: The HPV protein-encoding genes are expressed in the yeast vectors to create large amounts of protein, which are then purified and used in the vaccine.
8. Generally, the whole protein molecule is necessary for immunogenicity.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Generally, the whole protein molecule is not necessary for immunogenicity; the immunogenic property is usually confined to a small portion of the protein molecule. Thus, the whole of the organism is not needed to inject into the patient body. It may be harmful. Thus, it is better to have proteins to cause immunogenic action.
9. Which polypeptide of cholera enterotoxin is nontoxic but immunogenic?
a) A1
b) A2
c) B
d) B1
Answer: c
Clarification: Cholera enterotoxin (produced by Vibrio cholerae) consists of three polypeptides: A1, A2 and B polypeptides. The A polypeptides are toxic, while the B polypeptide is nontoxic but immunogenic. Thus, we can use the B polypeptide for the manufacture of vaccines.
10. What are the disadvantages of recombinant protein or polypeptide vaccines?
a) High cost and storage
b) Storage and transportation
c) Transportation and cost
d) Cost, transportation, storage
Answer: d
Clarification: The disadvantages of recombinant protein or polypeptide vaccines are: their cost is very high and often prohibitive since they are produced by either bacterial fermentation or in animal cell cultures. They have to be stored at low temperatures. This makes their storage and transportation problematic.