Immunity is defined as the set of defenses, that our bodies possess, which has the role to protect us against pathogens and to fight against infections.

Our Immunity

Passive immunity refers to the creation of immunity by introducing antibodies from outside the organism, such as the injection of antivenom after having been bitten by a snake.

Passive immunity

There are several immunity categories:
<ul>
<li>Nonspecific defenses: these work against all foreign matter and pathogens</li>
<li>Specific defenses: these are specialized in fighting against particular threats</li>
<li> Innate immunity: natural immunity that protects one from birth until death</li>
<li>Acquired immunity: it is the third line of defense, which offers protection against specific types of pathogens.</li>
</ul>

Immunity categories

<ul>
<li> The need to be exposed to a pathogen or to the antigen of a pathogen, which leads to the production of antibodies</li>
<li> The cells involved are of three types: T cells, B cells and anti-presenting cells</li>
<li>Immunity is acquired after several exposures to the antigen</li>
<li>Active immunity can last up to an entire life</li>
<li>This type of immunity can cause at most some autoimmune disease and allergies, however, there are no issues generally.</li>
</ul>

Active immunity features

Among the features of passive immunity, the most known are:
<ul>
<li>This type of immunity does not require exposure to antigen or to an infectious agent</li>
<li>The response to an infectious agent is immediate</li>
<li>The immunity is effective on short term</li>
<li>The so-called 'serum sickness' is one of the effects of the exposure to antisera.</li>
</ul>

Passive immunity features

By active immunity, we generally understand the resistance that our immune system shows against pathogens. 
By the so-called 'clonal selection', enough antibodies are built up in order to help our organism fight off colds or different diseases.

Active immunity

Don't you want to understand how immunity works, including adaptive and innate, natural and artificial, and active and passive?

Immunity categories

Similar ideas to Immunity categories

Innate Immune System: The Body's Immediate, Generalized Line of Defense