The following passage was modified from the June 2005 Regents examination. Many people become infected with the chicken pox virus during childhood. After recovering from chicken pox, these people are usually immune to the disease for the rest of their lives. However, they may still be infected by viruses that cause other diseases, such as measles.
Discuss the immune response to the chicken pox virus. In your answer, be sure to include:
8. the identity of the specific antigen which triggers the immune response
9. an explanation of the role of the antigen in producing the immune response
10. a discussion of the role of white blood cells in the body’s response to the virus
11. an explanation of why recovery from an infection with the chicken pox virus will not protect a person from getting a different disease, such as measles
12. an explanation of why a chicken pox vaccination usually does not cause a person to become ill with chicken pox