Different Types of Immunity
There are several different types of immunity. These include passive, adaptive, and maternal immunity. Passive immunity involves antibodies produced outside the body to combat an invasion by a pathogen. Passive immunity is not as powerful but also a form of immunity. Passive immunity is the most common type, and it helps the body resist diseases and foreign agents.
Passive immunity
Passive immunity is an important component of the human immune system and is induced through antibodies. These antibodies come from immune individuals' pooled blood products or non-human animals. The earliest antibody-containing preparations used against infectious diseases were from horses, sheep, and rabbits. As bacteriology became more popular, antibodies were used to treat diseases. The first successful treatment was against diphtheria.
Passive immunity is the body's ability to protect itself from foreign substances and harmful agents. In most animals, the skin provides a barrier against foreign bodies. It's made up of layers of flattened cells called epidermal cells. These cells form bonds with each other and create an almost impenetrable surface. This barrier helps protect the body from infections but is only temporary. Active immunities are produced to combat toxins and reproduction, but passive immunity is also essential to keep the body healthy.
Adaptive immunity
Adaptive immunity is an immune system that has evolved to recognize and respond to specific antigens. It is controlled by crosstalk between innate and adaptive immune cells and is characterized by a highly versatile repertoire of receptors. This system has also evolved to distinguish between self and non-self antigens. Adaptive immune cells include immature B and T lymphocytes that undergo antigen receptor gene rearrangements. These lymphocytes express pathogen-specific antigen-specific receptors and are capable of responding rapidly to subsequent pathogen encounters.
Adaptive immunity develops when an individual's immune system encounters an antigen foreign to the body. During this process, specialized immune cells and antibodies will attack the foreign antigen and prevent the body from being infected in the future. This immune response can last a long time or be temporary. In some cases, it can even last for an individual's lifetime.
Maternal immunity
Maternal immunity is important to the survival of the fetus. It allows the mother to pass disease-fighting molecules to her fetus through the placenta. This is important for the fetus, as newborns are the most susceptible to infections. However, they develop their immune systems once they are born, and these antibodies help protect them from common childhood diseases.
Passive immunity is the type of maternal immunity that protects the infant by passing its antibodies and pathogen-fighting white cells across the placenta. Passive immunity is also acquired through breast milk and is present in infants for weeks or months after birth. In addition, this immunity protects infants from disease until their immune systems mature.
Humoral immunity
Humoral immunity occurs when the body produces antibodies in response to an infection or threat. The immune system develops this type of immunity in the bone marrow. Specifically, antibodies produced by B cells bind with antigens and assist the body in eliminating them. This process is known as endocytosis.
There are two forms of humoral immunity: passive immunity and active immunity. Passive immunity develops through the transfer of antibodies from one individual to another. Passive immunization is useful when a person is at high risk of infection but does not have enough time to produce an immune response. Passive immunity is also helpful in reducing the symptoms of persistent disease.
