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Definition

noun, plural: conjugate vaccines

A type of vaccine made from an antigen (e.g. bacterial sugar capsules) conjugated to a protein carrier in order to improve the antigen's immunogenicity.

Supplement

Some antigens are poor immunogens, thus, these antigens are made to conjugate with a protein carrier. An example of this type of vaccine is the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for infants and young children against pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Word origin: conjugate + vaccine.

See also: immunogenicity