Active immunity
Active immunity
Active immunity (pronounced: ak-tiv ih-myoo-ni-tee) is a type of immunity that occurs after the body is exposed to an antigen and produces its own antibodies to fight off disease. This can occur naturally, such as when a person is exposed to a disease and their body fights it off, or artificially, such as when a person is given a vaccine.
Etymology
The term "active immunity" comes from the Latin words "activus", meaning "active", and "immunitas", meaning "exemption from service or obligation". In this context, it refers to the body's active role in producing its own antibodies to fight off disease.
Related terms
- Passive immunity: This is a type of immunity where antibodies are given to a person rather than produced by the person's own body. This can occur naturally, such as when a baby receives antibodies from its mother through the placenta, or artificially, such as when a person is given an injection of antibodies.
- Herd immunity: This is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune.
- Vaccine: A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute.
- Antigen: A toxin or other foreign substance which induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
- Antibody: A blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances which the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Active immunity
- Wikipedia's article - Active immunity
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