specific immunity

immunity /im·mu·ni·ty/ (ĭ-mu´nĭ-te) the condition of being immune; the protection against infectious disease conferred either by the immune response generated by immunization or previous infection or by other nonimmunologic factors.

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acquired immunity  that occurring as a result of prior exposure to an infectious agent or its antigens (active i.), or of passive transfer of antibody or immune lymphoid cells (passive i.) .

active immunity  see acquired i.

artificial immunity  acquired (active or passive) immunity produced by deliberate exposure to an antigen, as in vaccination.

cell-mediated immunity  (CMI), cellular immunity acquired immunity in which the role of T lymphocytes is predominant.

genetic immunity  innate i.

herd immunity  the resistance of a group to attack by a disease to which a large proportion of the members are immune.

humoral immunity  acquired immunity in which the role of circulating antibodies is predominant.

inherent immunity , innate immunity that determined by the genetic constitution of the individual.

maternal immunity  humoral immunity passively transferred across the placenta from mother to fetus.

natural immunity  the resistance of the normal animal to infection.

nonspecific immunity  that which does not involve humoral or cell-mediated immunity, but includes lysozyme and interferon activity, etc.

passive immunity  see acquired i.

specific immunity  immunity against a particular disease or antigen.

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specific immunity

n.

Immunity against a specific antigen or disease.