The primary function of the immune system is to protect animals from environmental threats that can impede their survival. The immune system identifies threats and eliminates these threats as quickly as possible and develops an immunological memory.
An immunological memory allows animals to remember specific pathogens and helps to eliminate these pathogens faster with subsequent exposures to the same pathogen.
Innate and Acquired Immunity
- Innate immunity: Also referred to as nonspecific immunity is the immunity all animals are born with and is the animal’s first line of defence against infectious agents.
- Acquired immunity: Also referred to as adapted or specific immunity, is immunity that develops as the animal matures. Acquired immunity produces specific responses to each infectious agent, and builds up an immunological memory against pathogens for ensuring faster elimination in subsequent exposures.
