THE ADAPTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM

II. HUMORAL IMMUNITY

C. NATURALLY AND ARTIFICIALLY ACQUIRED ACTIVE AND PASSIVE IMMUNITY

Fundamental Statements for this Learning Object:

1. During passive immunity, the body receives antibodies made in another person or animal and the immunity is short-lived.
2. During active immunity, antigens enter the body and the body responds by making its own antibodies and B-memory cells. In this case, immunity is longer lived although duration depends on the persistence of the antigen and the memory cells in the body.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THIS SECTION

C. Active and Passive Immunity: Naturally and Artificially Acquired

Immunity may be passive or active.

1. Passive Immunity

During passive (def) immunity, antibodies (def) made in another person or animal enter the body and the immunity is short-lived.

2. Active Immunity

In the case of active (def) immunity, antigens (def) enter the body and the body responds by making its own antibodies and B-memory cells (def). In this case, immunity is longer lived although duration depends on the persistence of the antigen and the memory cells in the body.

Both passive and active immunity can be either naturally or artificially acquired.

 

• QUIZ YOURSELF ON THIS SECTION

Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology
The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work The Grapes of Staph at https://cwoer.ccbcmd.edu/science/microbiology/index_gos.html.