Final answer:
The cholera vaccine prompts the immune system to create antibodies and memory cells against the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. When exposed to the actual pathogen after vaccination, the immune system can mount a quicker and stronger response due to immunological memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Vaccination against cholera involves the administration of a weakened form of the bacterium. This practice stimulates immune system production and elicits an immune response. The cholera vaccine works by preparing the body to recognize the bacterium, which prompts the immune system to produce antibodies. If the cholera bacteria enter the body again, the immune system is equipped to respond more rapidly and effectively due to the presence of memory cells formed during vaccination.
These memory cells are a key part of the body's adaptive immune response. Upon re-exposure to the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, these cells prompt a quicker and more powerful immune response, often preventing the infection from taking hold and causing illness. This is due to the immune system's acquired ability to recognize and respond to the specific antigens of the cholera bacteria, a process called immunological memory. Therefore, if an infection occurs again, the body will produce an even greater attack on the bacteria because of this previously established immunological memory.