The Kinds of Immunity

What you do

• Notice that every passive example is fast but temporary, and every active one is slow but lasting. No exceptions.

Challenges to clear

• Fill the Naturally acquired passive bin correctly.
• Sort every example.
• Fill the Artificially acquired active box — immunity a vaccine makes you build yourself.

The task

Sort each example into the kind of immunity it is.

What this lesson covers

• Innate — Present from birth: Humans do not catch cattle plague (Species immunity — inborn and needing no previous exposure.); The skin and stomach acid keeping germs out (Non-specific defences you were born with.)
• Naturally acquired active — You got the disease: Having had chicken pox once and never getting it again (Your own body made the antibodies and left memory cells behind.); Recovering from measles and being protected for life (The infection itself was the immunising event.)
• Artificially acquired active — You were vaccinated: Being given BCG against tuberculosis (A weakened germ provokes your own response, without the disease.); Taking oral polio drops (A vaccine — your body does the work, so protection lasts.)
• Naturally acquired passive — Given by the mother: Antibodies crossing the placenta to the foetus (Ready-made and short-lived, but it protects the newborn.); A baby receiving antibodies in its mother's first milk (Colostrum is rich in antibodies — a strong reason to breastfeed early.)
• Artificially acquired passive — Given as an injection: Being given antivenom after a snake bite (Ready-made antibodies, because there is no time to make your own.); Being given tetanus antitoxin after a deep wound (Immediate but temporary — it does not replace being vaccinated.)

Hint

Two questions in order. Did you make the antibodies yourself (active) or were you given them (passive)? And did it happen by nature or by medical intervention?