What are applications of immunological memory?

One application of immunological memory is in vaccine development. Immunological memory plays a critical role in the efficacy of vaccines. Vaccines work by triggering the immune system to recognize and mount a rapid response against specific pathogens. Memory cells generated after vaccination provide long-lasting protection, preventing future infections by the same pathogen (e.g. from measles or whooping cough). Another application is in cancer immunotherapy. Cancer immunotherapy uses the innate immune system's natural ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. Unlike conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy, which directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy stimulates the body's own immune defenses to fight cancer. Upon recognizing cancer cells, innate immune cells release signaling molecules called cytokines and chemokines. These signals help recruit other immune cells to the site of the tumor and activate them to attack the cancerous cells.