What is natural and acquired immunity?
The immune system has many different responsibilities. Not only does the immune system provide protection from infection through natural barriers, but it also adapts itself to provide immunity against infection by “remembering” the infectious microorganism from a previous exposure. The degree and duration of immunity depend on the type and amount of antigen and how it enters the body. • Natural immunity is created by the body’s natural barriers, such as the skin, and protective substances in the mouth, the urinary tract, and on the eye surface. Another type of natural immunity is in the form of antibodies passed on from mother to child. • Acquired immunity develops through exposure to specific foreign microorganisms, toxins, and/or foreign tissues), which are “remembered” by the body’s immune system. When that antigen enters the body again, the immune system “remembers” exactly how to respond to it, such as with chickenpox. Once a person is exposed to chickenpox or the chickenpox vacci
