Question 1: Define the term 'drug discovery' in the context of immunology.

Answer: The process of identifying and developing new medications to treat or prevent diseases, often targeting pathogens or immune responses.

Question 2: Explain the main goal of using high-throughput screening in drug discovery.

Answer: To rapidly test thousands of compounds for activity against a specific biological target, accelerating the identification of potential drugs.

Question 3: Describe one way in which computer modelling aids in drug discovery.

Answer: It allows scientists to simulate how different molecules interact with biological targets, helping to predict effectiveness and reduce experimental costs.

Question 4: What is a 'lead compound' in the drug discovery process?

Answer: A chemical compound that shows promise in preliminary tests for its ability to interact with a biological target related to a disease.

Question 5: State one ethical consideration in the drug discovery process involving animal testing.

Answer: Ensuring animal welfare and minimising suffering while conducting necessary testing for safety and efficacy.

Question 1: Fill in the blank: Antibiotics such as penicillin work by targeting bacterial ________, preventing bacteria from synthesising their cell walls.

Answer: cell walls

Question 2: Explain how vaccines stimulate immunity to fight infections.

Answer: Vaccines introduce a harmless form of a pathogen or its antigens to the body, prompting the immune system to produce specific antibodies and memory cells. This prepares the immune system to recognise and respond rapidly to future infections by the same pathogen.

Question 3: Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a characteristic of antiviral drugs?

Answer:

Question 1: Calculate the molarity of a drug solution prepared by dissolving 0.5 grams of a compound with a molar mass of 250 g/mol into 100 mL of solution.

Answer: 0.02 mol/dm^3

Question 2: Identify two variables that should be controlled during in vitro testing of a new drug.

Answer: Concentration of the drug and the temperature of the environment.

Question 3: Describe one safety precaution that must be observed during laboratory testing of new drugs.

Answer: Wearing protective gloves and goggles to prevent chemical exposure and contamination.

Question 1: A new drug tested on 100 patients showed a 75% success rate in eliminating symptoms. Describe what this data suggests about the drug's effectiveness.

Answer: It suggests that the drug is potentially effective for most patients, but further trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.

Question 2: Explain how drug discovery can contribute to controlling emerging infectious diseases.

Answer: Drug discovery enables the development of new medications that can target novel pathogens or resistant strains, helping to manage and contain outbreaks. Rapid identification and testing of candidate drugs are essential in responding swiftly to emerging threats, ultimately saving lives and reducing disease spread.