Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Antibodies and vaccination

Antibodies and vaccination — practice question

The malarial pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, enters red blood cells after infection of a person. After a period of time, each P. falciparum cell divides to produce daughter cells. Fig. 1.1 shows a cell of P. falciparum that is forming many daughter cells.
(a)[3]

With reference to Fig. 1.1, suggest the effect of P. falciparum on a red blood cell.

(b)[3]

When P. falciparum divides, the cytoplasm is shared unequally to produce small, genetically identical daughter cells. Outline the events that take place in the cell of P. falciparum to form the daughter cells shown in Fig. 1.1.

(c)[3]

Explain how antibodies reduce the spread of the malarial pathogen in the bloodstream.

(d)[5]

Some vaccination programmes have been more successful than others. Discuss the factors that make a vaccination programme successful.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 14-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: Uneven cell surface membrane / cell no longer has its biconcave shape.

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