| concomitant immunity | The paradoxical immune status in which resistance to reinfection coincides with the persistence of the original infection. Synonym: concomitant immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| herd immunity | <immunology> Resistance of a group to a pathogen due to immunity of a large proportion of the group to that pathogen. (09 Oct 1997) |
| humoral immunity | <immunology> A form of immunity whereby B lymphocytes and plasma cells produce antibodies to foreign agents (antigens) and stimulate T lymphocytes to attack them (cellular immunity). These antibodies also stimulate the release of chemical mediators (for example interferon, complement) which enhance antigen destruction. (06 Mar 1998) |
| specific active immunity | See: acquired immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific immunity | The immune status in which there is an altered reactivity directed solely against the antigenic determinants (infectious agent or other) that stimulated it. See: acquired immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific passive immunity | See: acquired immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| natural immunity | This includes local barriers to infection such as skin, stomach acid, mucous, the cough reflex, enzymes in tears and saliva and skin oils. (27 Sep 1997) |
| natural passive immunity | Immunity conferred by the mother on the foetus or newborn. (14 Nov 1997) |
| stress immunity | Insusceptibility or resistance to the effects of emotional strain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunity | <immunology> The condition of being immune, the protection against infectious disease conferred either by the immune response generated by immunisation or previous infection or by other nonimmunologic factors. Origin: L. Immunitas (13 Oct 1997) |
| immunity, active | Resistance to a disease agent resulting from the production of specific antibodies by the host, either after exposure to the disease or after vaccination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunity, cellular | Those manifestations of the immune response which are mediated by antigen-sensitised T-lymphocytes via lymphokines or direct cytotoxicity. This takes place in the absence of circulating antibody or where antibody plays a subordinate role. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunity deficiency | Inabillity to mount a normal immune response. Immunodeficiency can be due to a genetic disease or acquired as in aids due to HIV. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunity, maternally-acquired | Resistance to a disease-causing agent induced by the introduction of maternal immunity into the foetus by transplacental transfer or into the neonate through colostrum and milk. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunity, mucosal | Nonsusceptibility to the pathogenic effects of foreign microorganisms or antigenic substances as a result of antibody secretions of the mucous membranes. Mucosal epithelia in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts produce a form of IgA (IgA, secretory) that serves to protect these ports of entry into the body. (12 Dec 1998) |