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Adaptive Immunity Definition. Adaptive immunity is an important part of the immune system. It is protection from an infectious disease agent that is mediated by B-and T-lymphocytes following exposure to specific antigen, and characterized by immunological memory.
It is part of the adaptive immune system, which is activated in response to a specific threat, as opposed to the innate immune system, which is continually active but less effective. The other part of the adaptive system is cellular, or cell-mediated, immunity, in which cells release toxins to kill invaders or attack them directly, without the involvement of antibodies.