Exam 17: Immunology I: Basic Principles of Adaptive Immunity and Immunization

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The four attributes of adaptive immunity are specificity, diversity, memory, and self/non-self recognition.

Specificity refers to the ability of the immune system to recognize and respond to specific antigens. Both humoral and cell-mediated responses achieve specificity through the production of antigen-specific receptors. In the humoral response, B cells produce antibodies that specifically bind to antigens, while in the cell-mediated response, T cells recognize and bind to specific antigens presented on the surface of infected cells.

Diversity refers to the wide range of antigens that the immune system can recognize and respond to. Both humoral and cell-mediated responses achieve diversity through the generation of a diverse repertoire of antigen-specific receptors. In the humoral response, B cells undergo a process called somatic hypermutation to generate a diverse set of antibodies, while in the cell-mediated response, T cells undergo a similar process to generate a diverse set of T cell receptors.

Memory refers to the ability of the immune system to "remember" previous encounters with specific antigens and mount a faster and more robust response upon re-exposure. Both humoral and cell-mediated responses achieve memory through the generation of long-lived memory cells. In the humoral response, memory B cells are generated and can quickly differentiate into antibody-producing plasma cells upon re-exposure to the same antigen, while in the cell-mediated response, memory T cells are generated and can quickly mount a cytotoxic response upon re-exposure.

Self/non-self recognition refers to the ability of the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self antigens. Both humoral and cell-mediated responses achieve self/non-self recognition through the process of central and peripheral tolerance. In the humoral response, B cells that recognize self-antigens are eliminated during development in the bone marrow, while in the cell-mediated response, T cells that recognize self-antigens are eliminated or rendered tolerant in the thymus.

In summary, both humoral and cell-mediated responses achieve the attributes of adaptive immunity through the generation of antigen-specific receptors, the generation of a diverse repertoire of receptors, the generation of memory cells, and the process of self/non-self recognition.