Question

After infection of microbes, the immunity acquired is known as
(a) Active immunity
(b) Passive immunity
(c) Natural immunity
(d) Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: The immunity developed in a body against disease can be achieved through the presence of antibodies in the person’s system. These antibodies are proteinaceous in nature and are produced to kill the pathogens that deliver the diseases to the living organisms.

Complete answer
When the person develops an infection or a disease due to their exposure to the pathogen and the person’s body becomes immune to the disease which is caused due to the development of the immune response in the body is called the active immunity which is acquired naturally. An example of actively acquired immunity being harnessed for human health is the use of monoclonal antibodies or MAbs. They are antibody clones produced from a single cell. They are highly specific because they are targeted towards a single region on the pathogen’s surface. MAbs are being used in the treatment of various pathogenic diseases and disorders like cancer.

Additional information
-People who are administered preformed antibodies get passive immunity. It is the transfer of active humoral immunity through these readymade antibodies.
-When the individual is exposed to a microbe and develops a disease and the body develops the primary immune response towards it then it will develop naturally acquired immunity. While the immunity which is developed through inducing a vaccine that contains a certain antigen and develops an immunity is termed as the typically acquired immunity.
- Passive immunity is of two types: natural and artificial. Natural immunity is acquired by newborn infants through the placenta and through the consumption of their mother’s breast milk. Artificial immunity is induced by the transfer of antibodies through blood plasma and serum.

So, the correct answer is ‘Active immunity’.

Note:
Species other than human beings pass maternal antibodies to their offspring are primates, rabbits, and hares. Antibodies are disease-specific. For example, the person suffering from the measles will be protected when they develop an antibody against it but they would not be able to protect them when they are exposed to diseases other than measles like mumps.