Definition

Noun: A biological reaction by the body's immune system to a foreign substance (antigen), involving the recognition of the antigen and the production of cells and antibodies to attack and neutralize it.

Usage

The term describes the specific, coordinated activity of the immune system when it encounters a potential threat. * The vaccine is designed to stimulate an immune response without causing the full disease. * A strong immune response is crucial for fighting off infections. * Allergies are essentially an inappropriate immune response to harmless substances like pollen.

Advanced Usage

• Primary vs. Secondary Immune Response: The primary response is the immune system's first encounter with an antigen, which is typically slower. A secondary (or anamnestic) response occurs upon re-exposure to the same antigen and is faster and stronger due to immunological memory.
  • The effectiveness of vaccines relies on creating a memory for a rapid secondary immune response.
• Humoral vs. Cell-Mediated Immune Response: These are two major arms of the adaptive immune response. The humoral response involves B cells and antibody production. The cell-mediated response involves T cells that directly destroy infected cells.
  • Defense against viruses often requires a robust cell-mediated immune response.

Variants and Related Words

• Immunity (n): The state of being protected from a particular disease, often as a result of a prior immune response.
• Immunize (v): To make someone immune to a disease, typically by vaccination to induce an immune response.
• Immunological (adj): Relating to the immune system and immune responses.
• Autoimmune Response (n): An immune response in which the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues.

Synonyms

• Immunological reaction
• Immune reaction
• Immunoreaction

Related Phrases

• To mount an immune response: To initiate and carry out an immune response.
  • The patient's body failed to mount an effective immune response against the pathogen.
• To trigger/elicit an immune response: To cause an immune response to begin.
  • The adjuvant in the vaccine helps to trigger a stronger immune response.
• Suppress/dampen the immune response: To reduce the activity of the immune system.
  • Certain medications are given to transplant patients to suppress the immune response and prevent organ rejection.

Noun

1. a bodily defense reaction that recognizes an invading substance (an antigen: such as a virus or fungus or bacteria or transplanted organ) and produces antibodies specific against that antigen