Adaptive immunity

Looks like

The learned defence carried by T and B lymphocytes, each recognising one specific target.

What it does

Targets particular germs and remembers them, so a second encounter is faster and stronger — the basis of vaccines.

Keeping it well

It weakens with age, HIV and immune-suppressing drugs. Vaccinations keep its memory up to date.

Related conditions

• Allergy & anaphylaxis
• HIV infection
• Neonatal sepsis
• Neutropenic sepsis
• Primary immunodeficiency
• Sepsis
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Transplant rejection & graft-versus-host disease