Laboratory mice are immunized with a measles vaccine. When the mice are challeng

Question

Laboratory mice are immunized with a measles vaccine. When the mice are challenged with the measles virus to test the strength of their immunity, the memory cells do not completely prevent replication of the measles virus. The virus undergoes a few rounds of replication before the immune response is observed. You have developed a strain of mice with a much faster response to a viral challenge. But these mice often develop an autoimmune disease. Speculate on the connection between speed of response and an autoimmune disease.

Explanation / Answer

Your results indicate than an immune system that can mount an immediate response to a viral challenge tends to be indiscriminate in its response. It reacts against the virus and the body's own cells. Therefore, an autoimmune disease frequently occurs. Your results also suggest that a slow specific response is better than a fast specific response because the chance of a crippling autoimmune response is less.

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