What is immunity?

Immunity is the body's ability to resist and fight off disease-causing agents like bacteria and viruses. This is a function of the immune system, which provides a defense mechanism that can be both built-in and acquired over a lifetime through exposure or vaccination.

 

Types of immunity:

Innate immunity: The body's first line of defense, which is non-specific and present from birth. It includes physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes that keep pathogens out.

Adaptive immunity: A specific and long-lasting defense that develops over time as you encounter diseases or are vaccinated. When your body is exposed to a pathogen, it creates antibodies and a "memory" so it can fight it off more effectively in the future.

Passive immunity: A temporary form of immunity gained from a source other than the body itself. A common example is the transfer of antibodies from a mother to her baby through the placenta or breast milk.

 

What is anti-cancer immunity?

Anti-tumor immunity is the body's natural defense against cancer, involving both innate and adaptive immune responses that recognize and eliminate tumor cells. This process relies on immune cells, like T cells, identifying abnormal tumor antigens and then mounting a response to kill the cancer cells, which can also be boosted by treatments like immunotherapy.