Infectious disease agents production

The immunological agents are the agents which produce active or passive immunity and are used to prevent or to modify certain infectious disease. Immunity can be defined as the ability of the body to neutralize and eliminate the pathogens and their toxic products. 

Vaccines and related biologic products constitute an important group of agents that bridge the disciplines of microbiology, infectious diseases, immunology, and immunopharmacology. A list of the most important preparations is provided here. The reader who requires more complete information is referred to the sources listed at the end of this appendix. 

For many years the preferred approach to immunity to infectious disease lias been by development of active immunity through the injection of a vaccine. The vaccine may be either an attenuated live infections agent, or an inactivated or killed product. In either case, protective substances called antibodies are generated in the bloodstream these, are described in the next section. Vaccines for a number of diseases have been available for many years and have assisted in the eradication of some diseases, such as smallpox. As new strains of bacteria and viruses are discovered, additional vaccines becomes available from time to time. See also Vaccine Technology,... 

Penicillin antibiotics are part of a wide variety of antimicrobial agents that are used as veterinary drugs to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Such use may lead to problems with residues in the livestock products. To provide safe products for consumers, the quantification of these residues in foods is required. 

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