Adaptive immune response

The adaptive immune response is the body’s way of fighting specific threats like bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens. When harmful invaders enter, the immune system recognizes unique markers on their surface and creates targeted defenses, such as specialized cells and antibodies, to eliminate them. This response is slow initially but becomes faster and more effective over time, especially after previous exposures, leading to immunity. Essentially, the adaptive immune system develops a customized, memory-based defense, allowing the body to recognize and respond more quickly to future infections by the same pathogen.