Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Innate immunity (also called natural or native immunity) provides the early line of defense
against microbes. It consists of cellular and biochemical defense mechanisms that are in place
even before infection and are poised to respond rapidly to infections. The mechanism s of
innate immunity are specific for structures that are common to groups of related microbes and
may not distinguish fine differences between microbes.
Adaptive immunity (also called specific or acquired immunity) system recognizes and reacts to
a large number of microbial and nonmicrobial substances. The defining characteristics of
adaptive immunity are the ability to distinguish different substances, called specificity, and the
ability to respond more vigorously to repeated exposures to the same microbe, known as
memory. The unique components of adaptive immunity are cells called lymphocytes and their
secreted products, such as antibodies. Foreign substances that induce specific immune
responses or are recognized by lymphocytes or antibodies are called antigens.
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