Definition

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

Usage

This term is used in medical and biological contexts to describe the process by which the immune system identifies and responds to a threat. * The vaccine is designed to stimulate an immunologic response without causing the full disease. * Researchers measured the strength of the patient's immunologic response to the new therapy. * A suppressed immunologic response can make an individual more susceptible to infections.

Advanced Usage

• Adoptive immunologic response: A response where immune cells (like T-cells) are transferred from one individual to another to treat a disease.
• Anamnestic immunologic response: Also called a "memory response," this is the rapid and strong immune reaction upon a second encounter with the same antigen.
• Cell-mediated immunologic response: An immune response that does not involve antibodies but rather the activation of immune cells like T-cells to destroy infected cells.

Variants and Related Words

• Immune response: A more common synonym for immunologic response.
• Immunological response: An alternative spelling with the same meaning.
• Immunoreaction: A less common term for a specific immune system reaction.
• Immunogenicity (noun): The ability of a substance to provoke an immunologic response.

Synonyms

• Immune reaction
• Immune response

Antonyms

• Immunologic tolerance (a state of unresponsiveness to a specific antigen)
• Anergy (a lack of reaction by the body's defense mechanisms)

Related Phrases

• To mount an immunologic response: To initiate and carry out an immune defense.
  • The body successfully mounted an immunologic response against the virus.
• To elicit an immunologic response: To cause or trigger an immune reaction.
  • The adjuvant is included in the vaccine to help elicit a stronger immunologic response.

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