Question

............... is/are the characteristic/s of acquired immunity

• A. Specificity of antigen
• B. Difference between self and non-self
• C. Memory retention
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is D All of the above

Acquired immunity or adaptive immunity develops following exposure to an antigen and is mediated by B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes or both, having a specific surface receptor for the same antigen.
Following are the characteristics of acquired immunity:

• Diversity: They can respond to millions of different antigens.
• Antibody specificity: Ability of the antibody to recognize the specific antigen (even antigen molecule differing by a single amino acid). The response is directed only towards the initiated pathogen.
• Immunologic memory: Once recognized and responded to an antigen, the system is able to respond more strongly to subsequent exposure even after many years.
• Discrimination between self and non-self: It can differentiate self-cells (host cells) from foreign cells and molecules. Only foreign particles are attacked. Failure of this discrimination results in auto-immune diseases.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.