Acquired

immunity

immunity
Defined as resistance exhibited by the host against
any foreign antigen including microorganisms .

acquired immunity
Resistance acquired by an individual during life is
called as acquired immunity
2 types
Active immunity
Passive immunity

ACTIVE IMMUNITY
Active
NATURA
L
ARTIFICI
AL

Acquired by natural subclinical or

clinical infections
Long lasting
Eg: Persons recovering from
measles infection

Produced by vaccination
Eg: rabies vaccine

 Vaccines are prepared from live, attenuated

or killed microorganisms, or their antigens
or toxoids.
In killed vaccine the organisms are killed by
heat, formalin, phenol & alcohol & alcohol.
Toxoids are prepared from bacterial
exotoxins inactivated by formalin or by
alum.
Toxoids are immunogenic but not toxigenic.

vaccines
A)Live vaccines
BCG for tuberculosis
Sabin vaccine for poliomyelitis
MMR vaccine for measles, mumps,
rubella

B)Killed vaccine

TAB for enteric fever

Neural & non-neural vaccines for rabies
Hepatitis B vaccine
Salk vaccine for poliomyelitis
Killed cholera vaccine

C)Bacterial products
Tetanus toxoid for tetanus
Diphtheria toxoid for diphtheria

mechanism
Active immunity response stimulates both humoral
& cell mediated immunity usually in parallel
Humoral immunity

Antibody mediated
immunity
Depends on synthesis
of antibodies by
plasma cells
Activity is in the form
of lysis of antigen
molecules, their toxin
may be neutralized or
in the form of removal
of antigen by

Cell mediated
immunity(CMI)
Depends on Tlymphocytes developed
against certain antigens
Important in resistance to
chronic bacterial
infections

Passive immunity
It is induced in an individual by preformed antibodies
(antiserum) against infective agent or toxin
Immune system has no active role in passive immunity
Protection starts immediately after transfer of immune
serum
There is no latent period as present in active immunity
Short lasting
Useful when immunity is immediately required
2 types-

NATURAL
ARTIFICIAL

Natural passive immunity

Transferred from mother to foetus or infant
IgG is transferred transplacentally
Transferred transplacentally or by milk
(colostrum)
IgA and IgG are transferred through milk
Protects them until their own immunity system
matures to function

Artificial passive immunity

Through parenteral administration of
antibodies.
Agents used: hyperimmune sera of
animal (horse)or human origin,
convalescent sera & pooled human
gammaglobulin

CONVALESCENT SERA
Sera of patients recovering from infectious
diseases
Contain high levels of specific antibody
Employed for passive immunisation against
measles & rubella
Pooled human gammaglobulin are used for
passive immunisation against some viral infections
eg: hepatitis A

Uses of passive immunisation

To provide immediate short term
protection in nonimmune host
For suppression of active immunity
For treatment of serious infections

Thank you