Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Antibodies & Vaccination (CIE AS Biology)

Exam Questions

2 hours41 questions
1a
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Fig. 1 shows part of the specific immune response.

immune-response-clonal-expansion-sq

Fig. 1

(i)

Identify the cell type represented by cell X

[1]

(ii)

Identify the molecules labelled Z

[1]

1b
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Describe the events that occur during stage Y of the immune response shown in Fig. 1.

1c
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Molecule Z in Fig. 1 is composed of three distinct regions.

Give the names of these three regions. 

1d
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Proteins known as mAbs are artificially produced molecules which have multiple applications in science and medicine.

The process of producing mAbs can be seen in Fig. 2.monoclonal-antibodies-graphic

Fig. 2

(i)

Which cell, from cell A and cell B, represents the tumour cell used to give the hybridoma cell the ability to divide repeatedly.

[1]

(ii)

Give two uses of the mAbs isolated in stage X.

[2]

Did this page help you?

2a
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Fig. 1 shows the hospitalisation rates of people with COVID-19 for those who are unvaccinated and for those who have been vaccinated.

rate-of-hospitalisation

Fig. 1

Calculate how many times more likely an unvaccinated person is to be hospitalised than a vaccinated person in May 2021.

2b
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Vaccination provides a type of immunity. 

(i)

Identify the type of immunity shown by the vaccinated individuals in Fig. 1. 

[1]

(ii)

Describe the type of immunity identified in part (i). 

[2]

2c
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Explain the difference in hospitalisation rates shown in Fig. 1.

2d
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Vaccination programmes, like those used against COVID-19, can lead to herd immunity.

Explain what is meant by herd immunity.

Did this page help you?

3a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Table 1 contains information about different types of immunity.

Use your knowledge of immunity to fill in the gaps in Table 1.

Table 1

Type of immunity Production of antibodies Presence of memory cells Example
Natural, passive No   Across the placenta during pregnancy
Acquired, passive   No An injection of antibodies
Natural, active Yes    
Acquired, active   Yes Being vaccinated

3b
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Use information in Table 1 to suggest why babies need to be vaccinated from the age of 8 weeks.

3c
Sme Calculator
2 marks

When an individual is vaccinated they remain susceptible to a disease for a few weeks afterwards.

Suggest why this is the case.

3d
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Tetanus is a bacterial infection gained from contact between the blood and the soil-dwelling bacterium Clostridium tetani.

An individual who had not been vaccinated against tetanus received a cut from a garden fork and it was suggested that they should go to the hospital for an injection of tetanus antibodies.

Describe how this injection would protect them against tetanus.

Did this page help you?

1a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Fig. 1 shows the 3-dimensional structure of an IgG antibody.

b965e0d4-d2bc-479c-ac53-4e8787d07991

Image courtesy of Tokenzero. Licensed under creative commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Reused and distributed under conditions found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Fig. 1

(i)
Identify the areas of the antibody marked X and Y.
[2]
(ii)
Name the bonds that hold the separate polypeptides of the antibody structure together.

[1]

1b
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Explain how antibodies such as that shown in Fig. 1 are adapted to their function.

1c
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Fig. 2 shows one way in which antibodies interact with pathogens.

7

Fig. 2

(i)
Name the process taking place in Fig. 2.

[1]

(ii)
Outline one other way in which antibodies interact with pathogens.
[1]

1d
Sme Calculator
3 marks

It is possible to engineer antibodies in the laboratory to carry out particular functions.

Suggest how an antibody could be engineered to carry out a specific function.

Did this page help you?

2a
Sme Calculator
6 marks

Monoclonal antibodies can be produced using a process known as the hybridoma method.

Outline how hybridomas can be used in the production of monoclonal antibodies.

2b
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Lymphocytes known as T regulatory cells, or Treg cells, can act to suppress the activity of the immune system. In cancer patients this can be a problem as it prevents the cells of the immune system from destroying tumour cells.

Suggest how monoclonal antibodies could be used to reduce the activity of Treg cells.

2c
Sme Calculator
2 marks

While part b) descibes a problem resulting from the activity of Treg cells, a lack of Treg cell activity can cause other problems.

Suggest why the activity of the Treg cells described in part b) is important.

Did this page help you?

3a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Some breast cancers are caused by overexpression of a protein known as HER2. These types of breast cancers can be treated with a monoclonal antibody known as trastuzumab that targets HER2 proteins.

Fig.1 shows how monoclonal antibodies that target HER2 proteins can be produced.

11-2-fig-3-1Fig. 1

In Fig.1:

(i)
State what is injected into the mouse at X.

[1]

(ii)
Name the cell formed at Y.

[1]

(iii)
State the purpose of the screening process that takes place at Z.
[1]
3b
Sme Calculator
4 marks

The monoclonal antibodies produced in Fig. 3.1 need to undergo a process known as humanisation before they can be used as a treatment for breast cancer in humans.

(i)

Suggest why the antibodies need to be humanised.

[2]

(ii)
Suggest how the antibodies could be humanised before being used as a breast cancer treatment in humans.
[2]
3c
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Fig. 2 shows the results of a study that compared rates of disease free survival in HER2-related breast cancer patients receiving either chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy alongside trastuzumab.

11-2-fig-3-2
Fig. 2

Calculate the percentage increase in disease-free survival after 4 years in patients receiving chemotherapy alongside trastuzumab in comparison with patients receiving chemotherapy alone.

3d
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Other than survival rates, suggest why it is advantageous to use monoclonal antibodies in cancer treatment rather than traditional chemotherapy.

Did this page help you?

4a
Sme Calculator
5 marks

Fig. 1 shows the antibody concentration in the blood after the administration of a vaccine and after infection with the same pathogen some time later.

7vILK8jK_1

Fig. 1

Explain the differences in antibody concentration between that after administration of the vaccine and that after infection with the same pathogen.

4b
Sme Calculator
4 marks

Fig. 2 shows the number of measles cases in England and Wales between 1940 and 2010. The measles vaccine was introduced in 1968.

11-2-fig-4-2
Fig. 2

Describe the trend shown in the data in Fig.2 for the years:

(i)
1940 to 1968.

[2]

(ii)
1968 to 2010.

[2]

4c
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Despite the introduction of the measles vaccine, measles has not been eradicated.

Suggest three reasons why this is the case.

4d
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Contrast the immunity gained by children who are given the measles vaccine with the immunity that babies are born with.

Did this page help you?

5a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Tetanus is a potentially life threatening infection caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria. Upon infection with C. tetani, a toxin is produced by the bacteria that results in painful muscle contractions. One method of treatment involves the injection of tetanus antitoxin, which contains antibodies derived from a person that was vaccinated against tetanus.

Fig.1 shows the concentration of antibodies in the bloodstream of two individuals, A and B. Person A was injected with tetanus antitoxin, while person B was vaccinated against tetanus.

11-2-fig-5-1
Fig.1

Compare the antibody concentration of person A and B, with reference to Fig.1.

5b
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Identify the type of immunity that person A and B gained, as illustrated by Fig.1.

5c
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Person A and B each gained a different type of immunity against tetanus.

Explain the advantages of the type of immunity gained by person B.

5d
Sme Calculator
2 marks

With reference to Fig.1, suggest why the tetanus antitoxin is an effective form of treatment against tetanus.

Did this page help you?

1a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

Antibody molecules are proteins that show primary structure, secondary structure, tertiary structure and quaternary structure.

Fig.1 shows a ribbon diagram of an antibody molecule.

fig1-1-qp-mayjune-2019-9700-21
Fig. 1

Describe how Fig.1 shows the secondary structure and tertiary structure of the antibody molecule.

1b
Sme Calculator
8 marks

Fig. 2 is a transmission electron micrograph of a hybridoma cell.

fig1-2-qp-mayjune-2019-9700-21

Fig. 2

(i)

The hybridoma cell in Fig. 2 synthesises and secretes molecules of a monoclonal antibody.

State the roles of the structures labelled X and Y in the production of antibody molecules in the hybridoma cell.

[2]

(ii)

The hybridoma method for the production of monoclonal antibodies involves a number of stages. One of these stages is the formation of hybridoma cells.

Outline the stage in which hybridoma cells are formed.

[3]

(iii)

Outline the use of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of disease.

[3]

Did this page help you?

2a
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Fig. 1 is a photomicrograph of a cross-section of a tubular structure in the kidney made from epithelial cells.

A ruler has been included for scale. 

image-for-cie-ial-18-nov-series-1-p2-q4a

Fig. 1

The actual length of epithelial cell A along the line P–Q is 35 μm.

Calculate the magnification of the image shown in Fig.1. Write down the formula and use it to make your calculation. Show your working.

[2]

2b
Sme Calculator
4 marks

Some epithelial cells in the kidney release the protein vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein is a cell signalling molecule that stimulates cell division in endothelial cells in blood vessels.

(i)

State what occurs during interphase to prepare a cell for division.

[2]

(ii)

Explain how a cell signalling molecule, such as VEGF, can lead to a response in a cell.

[2]

2c
Sme Calculator
4 marks

Uncontrolled cell division may result in a tumour. Tumour cells in the kidney respond to VEGF.

Kidney cancer can be treated with monoclonal antibodies. These monoclonal antibodies bind to VEGF.

Outline the hybridoma method for the production of monoclonal antibodies that will target the VEGF protein.

2d
Sme Calculator
1 mark

Monoclonal antibodies used as a treatment need to be given more than once. Repeated treatment can cause side effects to the person or can become less effective.

Suggest why repeated treatment with monoclonal antibodies may have these effects.

Did this page help you?

3a
Sme Calculator
3 marks

In the UK babies are routinely vaccinated against pathogens such as measles viruses and meningococcal group B bacteria. Babies are given two or three separate vaccinations against these diseases at regular intervals before their third birthdays.

Explain why more than one vaccination is offered for each disease.

3b
Sme Calculator
5 marks

Fig. 1 shows the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in the UK from 2010 to 2020. The vaccine for meningococcal B infections was introduced to the UK in 2015.

11-2-q3b-hard

Fig.1

(i)
Explain how vaccination works to produce the downward trend shown in Fig. 1. 

[4]

(ii)

Suggest a reason for the data shown in 2018/19.

[1]

3c
Sme Calculator
2 marks

Routine vaccination of babies ensures that as many people as possible are vaccinated. Suggest how this protects the UK population against pathogens such as measles viruses and meningococcal bacteria.

3d
Sme Calculator
5 marks

An expectant mother is concerned about the health of her unborn baby after she has been infected with a common influenza virus (the flu). Her doctor tells her there is no need to be concerned. 

Explain how a foetus is protected against the pathogens that infect its mother during pregnancy.

Did this page help you?