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Many antiviral vaccines currently in use consist of inactivated viruses. Inactivated, or killed viral vaccines, consist of viruses treated so that they are unable to replicate. How is another type of antiviral vaccine commonly used that is usually far more potent is prepared?

Molecular mimicry
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Attenuation
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User Anil M
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Final answer:

Live attenuated vaccines, which use weakened forms of the virus, are another common and usually more potent type of vaccine than those using inactivated viruses. They lead to better immunity but have a small risk of reverting to a disease-causing form.

Step-by-step explanation:

Another common method of preparing antiviral vaccines, which is generally more potent than using inactivated viruses, is through the use of live attenuated viruses. These vaccines are made by weakening the "wild-type", or disease-causing, virus by growing it in the laboratory under conditions that it is not accustomed to, such as different tissues or temperatures. This process of attenuation induces mutations that inhibit its ability to cause disease while still provoking a strong immune response in the body. Live attenuated vaccines often lead to better immunity as they produce a broader and more durable immune response, including both humoral and cellular immunity, compared to inactivated vaccines which typically involve only humoral immunity and may require multiple doses and boosters. However, live attenuated vaccines carry a small risk that the virus could revert to a disease-causing form through back mutations.

User Jack Wild
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