Immunity

In the syllabus and the exam

Immunity is the umbrella outcome of the immune response topic, and SPM questions typically require candidates to classify a described scenario as natural or artificial immunity, and within each of those as active or passive immunity, rather than simply defining the word itself. Candidates must be able to explain that active immunity occurs when the body produces its own antibodies, whether through actually catching a disease naturally or through vaccination artificially, and that this type of immunity tends to be long-lasting because memory cells are formed. Passive immunity, by contrast, involves receiving ready-made antibodies from another source, such as a baby receiving antibodies from its mother or a patient receiving an antibody injection, and is explained as fast-acting but short-lived because no memory cells are produced by the recipient's own body. A frequent exam trap gives a scenario, such as an antivenom injection after a snakebite, and asks candidates to classify the type of immunity involved and justify the classification using the reasoning above.

Example

A baby gains temporary immunity to some diseases from antibodies passed through the mother's placenta and breast milk.

Related terms

AntibodyVaccinePathogen

Source:SRC-DSKP-EN