Definitions for "Adaptive immunity"
a type of immune response. It is a specific reaction to a particular antigen and becomes stronger when the individual is exposed to the antigen again. Compare innate immunity.
The ability of an organism to develop a specific increased resistance to a pathogen with associate memory. Mediate by T and B lymphocyes. (Lecture: Acquired Immunity, 2/14/02)
(uh-DAP-tiv ih-MYOO-nih-tee) Type of immune system response stimulated by exposure to an antigen and that increases in magnitude with each successive exposure to the antigen. Adaptive immunity is also called specific immunity, due to its high specificity for distinct molecules, as well as acquired immunity, because it is acquired through antigen exposure. The components of adaptive immunity include B cells, T cells and their products.