Lesson 3.2.4.3

3.2.4.3 Vaccines, HIV and monoclonal antibodies Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.4.3, Vaccines, HIV and monoclonal antibodies: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 2: Cells, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is herd immunity?

    • Immunity of an individual animal that is transferred to its offspring through the placenta.
    • Protection of a population, including unvaccinated people, when enough people are immune that the pathogen cannot spread easily.
    • The process by which phagocytes engulf and digest a pathogen in a lymph node.
    • The total number of antibodies produced by a single B cell during a primary response.

  2. Which description best matches active immunity?

    • Immunity received from antibodies that are transferred from another person or animal.
    • Immunity produced by the individual's own immune system after exposure to an antigen or vaccine.
    • Immunity produced by antibiotics that kill bacteria without any immune response.
    • Immunity produced by drinking breast milk that contains antibodies from the mother.

  3. Which description best matches passive immunity?

    • Immunity produced only when memory cells are stimulated by a vaccine containing antigens.
    • Immunity produced by the person's own B cells after contact with a pathogen.
    • Immunity acquired by receiving antibodies made by another person or animal, with no memory cells formed.
    • Immunity produced by the cytotoxic T cells that destroy infected body cells.

  4. HIV replicates inside which cells, leading to the symptoms of AIDS?

    • Red blood cells
    • Liver cells
    • Helper T cells
    • Neurones in the brain

  5. Why are antibiotics ineffective against viruses such as HIV?

    • Viruses lack the cell structures that antibiotics target, because they are non-living and replicate inside host cells.
    • Viruses divide by binary fission, which antibiotics cannot stop.
    • Viruses have a cell wall made of peptidoglycan, which antibiotics cannot penetrate.
    • Viruses are eukaryotes, and antibiotics act only on prokaryotic ribosomes.

  6. Which mechanism lets HIV cause the symptoms of AIDS?

    • It destroys plasma cells, stopping antibody production from B cells only.
    • It destroys red blood cells, reducing oxygen transport around the body.
    • It destroys helper T cells, weakening the immune response to other infections.
    • It destroys phagocytes in the blood plasma, leaving no immune response at all.

  7. Monoclonal antibodies can be used to target medication to specific cell types. How is this done?

    • The drug is dissolved in the blood plasma, where it enters all cells at the same rate.
    • The drug is stored in red blood cells, which release it into any cell they pass.
    • The drug is converted into an antibody inside the target cell, where it is then released.
    • A therapeutic drug is attached to an antibody that binds to a specific antigen on the target cells.

  8. Which use of monoclonal antibodies is described for medical diagnosis?

    • Destroying all bacteria in a patient's blood by releasing lysozymes.
    • Detecting a specific antigen or substance in a patient sample using antibody binding.
    • Producing red blood cells in large numbers from stem cells in the bone marrow.
    • Removing all helper T cells from the body to stop an autoimmune response.

  9. What is the principle of the ELISA test?

    • Antibodies are broken down by lysozymes, and the amount of product shows the bacteria present.
    • An antibody binds a specific antigen, and a linked marker shows whether the antigen is present.
    • Antigens are dissolved in lipid solvent, and the membrane is examined under a microscope.
    • Antigens are digested by helper T cells, and the number of cells remaining is counted.

  10. Which statement about vaccines is consistent with the concept of herd immunity?

    • Vaccines spread between people in the air so that all unvaccinated individuals become immune.
    • Vaccinating a large proportion of a population can protect unvaccinated individuals by reducing pathogen spread.
    • Vaccinating a small proportion of a population always protects all unvaccinated individuals completely.
    • Vaccines work only in individuals who have never had any contact with a pathogen.

  11. Which difference between active and passive immunity is correct?

    • Passive immunity produces memory cells and lasts longer, while active immunity gives immediate protection with no memory.
    • Both active and passive immunity produce memory cells, and both are permanent for the whole of a person's life.
    • Active immunity produces memory cells and lasts longer, while passive immunity gives immediate protection with no memory cells.
    • Active immunity is produced by drinking breast milk, while passive immunity follows vaccination with antigens.

  12. Which ethical issue is commonly associated with the use of vaccines?

    • Balancing individual choice against the protection of the wider population, including the risks of side effects.
    • Whether vaccines should contain living red blood cells to increase oxygen supply.
    • Whether vaccines should be used to replace all antibiotics in the treatment of infections.
    • Whether vaccines should be sold only to people over 80 years of age regardless of risk.

  13. A new monoclonal antibody therapy is tested in a clinical trial with a small sample of patients. Which evaluation is most appropriate?

    • The trial may not represent the wider population, so results should be interpreted with caution.
    • The trial shows the drug works for all patients, because all antibodies have the same binding site.
    • The trial results are certain, because any small sample always shows the true effect for all patients.
    • The trial is invalid, because monoclonal antibodies cannot be tested on any group of patients.

  14. A researcher uses a monoclonal antibody to detect a pathogen in a sample. Which result would indicate the pathogen is present?

    • The antibody dissolves in the sample and leaves no signal or colour change at all.
    • The antibody is digested by lysozymes, so the signal is lost from the sample.
    • The antibody kills the pathogen and removes it from the sample before any signal is produced.
    • The antibody binds to the pathogen antigen and produces a detectable signal.

  15. Why does the loss of helper T cells in HIV infection have a wide effect on immunity?

    • Helper T cells stimulate cytotoxic T cells, B cells and phagocytes, so their loss affects several responses.
    • Helper T cells form the cell membrane of every infected cell, so their loss exposes the cytoplasm.
    • Helper T cells produce red blood cells, so their loss reduces oxygen transport to all organs.
    • Helper T cells carry antibodies, so their loss only reduces antibody movement in the blood.

  16. Which statement about monoclonal antibodies is correct?

    • They are identical antibodies produced from a single clone of cells, each binding the same antigen.
    • They are produced by helper T cells, which bind the antigen and release it into the blood.
    • They are produced by red blood cells, which take up antigens from the plasma and release them.
    • They are a mixture of antibodies from many different B cells, each binding a different antigen.

  17. A child is given a vaccine and then develops antibodies and memory cells of her own. Which type of immunity has she gained?

    • Innate immunity, from phagocytes in the skin that engulf any pathogen that touches them.
    • Passive immunity, from antibodies given by injection from a donor who was already immune.
    • Active immunity, produced by her own immune system after exposure to the vaccine antigen.
    • Passive immunity, from antibodies that crossed the placenta before she was born to her mother.

  18. A drug is attached to an antibody that binds an antigen found only on one cell type. What advantage does this give?

    • The drug is delivered equally to every cell in the body, increasing its effect on all tissues.
    • The drug is delivered mainly to cells carrying that antigen, reducing effects on other cells.
    • The antigen is destroyed by the drug, so the drug is no longer needed to treat the condition.
    • The antibody removes the drug from the bloodstream before it can reach any of the target cells.

  19. Which factor would make a monoclonal antibody diagnostic test more reliable?

    • Using a sample that has been heated until all of its antigens are denatured and lost.
    • Using an antibody with high specificity for the target antigen.
    • Using an antibody that binds many different antigens to increase the number of signals.
    • Using a sample containing a large mixture of unrelated antibodies to produce more colour.

  20. Why does HIV infection make a person more susceptible to other infections such as tuberculosis?

    • HIV destroys all bacteria in the blood, which lets other viruses enter the body unchecked.
    • Loss of helper T cells means the immune system cannot mount an effective response to many pathogens.
    • HIV makes red blood cells produce antigens, which block the activity of all immune cells.
    • HIV causes antibiotics to lose their effect, so every infection becomes resistant to treatment.

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