Page 214 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

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214 SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
LIFE OF MICROBES
Immunity
Immunity is defined as a person’s ability to resist infection after exposure to a pathogen. Immunity
is very specific. For example, immunity to measles does not mean you are then immune to
chickenpox. Immunity may be acquired naturally or artificially.
1. Define the term 'pathogen'. 

2. Outline how the immune system responds to infection by a pathogen. 


3. Use a tick mark ( ) to compare 'naturally acquired immunity' with 'artificially acquired
immunity'.
Naturally Acquired
Immunity
Artificially Acquired
Immunity
Immunity comes after exposure to a
pathogen.
Immunity comes after recovery from
disease.
Antibodies remain in the body after
exposure to a pathogen.
Immunity acquired after exposure to a
vaccine.
Naturally Acquired Immunity
Occurs after a person is exposed to a pathogen.
The immune system responds to the pathogen
by producing antibodies to fight it. However, the
production of antibodies is relatively slow so the
infected person will suffer from the disease.
These antibodies remain in the body. If a person
gets re-infected they already have the antibodies
required to fight the pathogen before it can
cause disease.
Artificially Acquired Immunity
A vaccine is a substance that is introduced into the
body to stimulate the body’s immune response.
They usually contain dead or weakened pathogens
that stimulate the immune system to produce
antibodies against the pathogen.
These antibodies remain in the body. If the
vaccinated person gets infected they already
have the antibodies required to quickly fight the
pathogen before it can cause disease.
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