Adaptive immunity is the antigen-specific arm of host defence, mediated by T and B lymphocytes that recognise discrete molecular epitopes, mount a tailored response, and establish durable immunological memory. It is distinguished from innate immunity by clonal selection, somatic receptor diversification, and the cap…
Adaptive immunity is the antigen-specific arm of host defence, mediated by T and B lymphocytes that recognise discrete molecular epitopes, mount a tailored response, and establish durable immunological memory. It is distinguished from innate immunity by clonal selection, somatic receptor diversification, and the capacity for accelerated recall on re-exposure. The two principal effector branches are humoral immunity, in which B cells differentiate into plasma cells secreting antibodies that neutralise pathogens and toxins, and cell-mediated immunity, in which cytotoxic and helper T cells eliminate infected cells and coordinate the wider response through cytokines such as interferon-gamma. In the context of viral infection, adaptive responses determine clearance, the severity of inflammation, and the basis for both natural and vaccine-induced protection. Passive immunity, conferred by transferring preformed antibodies, can substitute for an inadequate endogenous response in critical cases. Work on this topic examines how immune modulators and cytokine signalling shape antiviral defence, how antibody-based and passive strategies may be applied therapeutically, and how host factors and nutritional status influence immune competence. A working knowledge of adaptive immunity underlies the interpretation of serology, immunopathology, vaccine design, and immunomodulatory treatment of infectious disease.
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