Difference Between Active And Passive Immunity

Immunity refers to the ability of a body of destroying foreign materials and pathogens so as to prevent any further infection. Thus, you will see that the human body’s first line of defense against pathogens is via barriers like skin, mucus, layers, and saliva. Further, we refer to this as innate immunity. After that, the second line of defense is through phagocytes which the innate immunity only products. Subsequently, the third line is through adaptive immunity. Thus, active and passive immunity are two kinds of adaptive immunity. Most importantly, it is important to learn the difference between active and passive immunity to understand it better. Thus, you will learn that antibodies that produce outside and introduces in the body develop passive immunity. On the other hand, active immunity develops when antibodies produced in one’s body.

Definition of Active Immunity

Active immunity refers to the direct response of a person’s body against the pathogens. Further, it is induced when it gets exposes to a foreign antigen, for instance, the antigen of microbes. Moreover, it refers to an adaptive response of the person after getting in contact with a particular pathogen or antigen. Further, this immunity does not take place immediately when exposed to a disease. Thus, it may take up to days or weeks after the first exposure for it to develop. However, once it does develop, the protection can last an entire lifetime. In addition, it may happen in two ways, either naturally or through immunization.

Definition of Passive Immunity

Passive immunity refers to the immunity which an individual confers through the transferring of serum or lymphocytes. Further, they get it from a particularly immunized individual. Moreover, it is a very beneficial method for conferring resistance without having to wait for the development of the active immune response. In addition, passive immunity does not require previous exposure to a disease agent. Further, it takes effect immediately, without any delay. In addition, it does not last long. In other words, may last up to a few months only.

Difference between Active And Passive Immunity

Basis of Comparison	Active Immunity	Passive Immunity
Meaning	It refers to the protective immunity where the individual’s own immune system stimulates for producing antibodies and lymphocytes	It refers to the immunity where a person receives antibodies or lymphocytes which another individual’s immune system receive
Production	Produced actively by immune system of the host	Produced passively by the host’s immune system
Antibodies	Induced by the infection or immunogens	Not produced but transferred directly
Immunological Memory	Produced	Not produced
Antigen	Requires exposure to a pathogen or to the antigen of a pathogen	Does not require exposure to an infectious agent or its antigen
Immunity Type	Involves humoral and cell-mediated immunity	Conferred only by readymade antibodies
Artificial Acquirement	Through vaccines	Administration of preformed antibodies
Lag Period	Present	Absent
Durability	Durable	Transient
Negative Phase	Present	Absent
Protection	Offers effective protection against microbes	Less efficient in offering complete protection
Side-Effects	No side-effects	May cause reactions

More details about Active Immunity

Active Immunity comprises of T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells. Moreover, it involves antibody production induced by infection or immunogen. Further, it results in the formation of long-lasting memory cells.

In addition, the protection it offers is long-lived. As the lag period is present, the protective response takes time for establishing. Finally, it gets reactivated by a recurrence of infection or by revaccination.

More details about Passive Immunity

In passive immunity, the antibody is performed so there is no involvement of immune cells. Moreover, because it transfers directly, there is no production of the antibody as well. In addition, memory immune cells also do not form.

Further, there is no secondary response over here. It requires frequent re-administration for renewed protection. After that, it is useful in cases of immune-compromised, immuno-deficient, or severe combined immunodeficiency.

FAQs about Active And Passive Immunity

Question 1: State one difference between active and passive immunity.

Answer 1: One difference between active and passive immunity is that immunological memory produces for active immunity and in passive immunity, it does not produce.

Question 2: Give some examples of active immunity.

Answer 2: There is natural and artificial immunity in active immunity. In natural, it produces antibodies as a response to exposure to pathogenic infection like measles. In addition, artificial is when antibodies produce as a response to controlled exposure to an attenuated pathogen which is vaccination.