What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity?

Question

The other day in class, someone asked about the difference between innate and adaptive immunity, and I realized it’s a question that comes up quite often. I remember reading a textbook chapter that broke it down in a simple way—innate immunity is your body’s quick, general defense, while adaptive immunity takes a bit longer but is specific and remembers the pathogens. Here’s a clear explanation for anyone curious.

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Markko 2025-06-08T06:17:50+00:00 1 Answer 1 views
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  1. fleming
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    2025-06-08T06:32:27+00:00
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    Innate Immunity (Also called Natural or Non-specific Immunity)

    Definition

    Innate immunity refers to the first line of defense against infection, comprising non-specific mechanisms that are present from birth and act rapidly upon encountering a pathogen.

    Specificity

    • Non-specific or broadly specific: Recognizes general molecular patterns shared by many pathogens (Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns or PAMPs, e.g., LPS, peptidoglycan, viral RNA) using a limited set of germline-encoded Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs).
    • Does not distinguish finely between different strains of the same pathogen or between different pathogens sharing similar PAMPs.

    Speed of Response

    • Rapid: Acts within minutes to hours of pathogen exposure.
    • Always present and ready to act immediately.

    Memory

    • No immunological memory: The response to a subsequent encounter with the same pathogen is of the same magnitude and speed as the initial response.

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