immune response

American  

noun

1. any of the body's immunologic reactions to an antigen.

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immune response British  

noun

1. the reaction of an organism's body to foreign materials (antigens), including the production of antibodies

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immune response Scientific  

/ ĭ-myo̅o̅n′ /

1. A protective response of the body's immune system to an antigen, especially a microorganism or virus that causes disease. The immune response involves the action of lymphocytes that deactivate antigens either by stimulating the production of antibodies (humoral immune response) or by a direct attack on foreign cells (cell-mediated immune response.) An inability to produce a normal immune response results in immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS.

2. See also cell-mediated immune response humoral immune response

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Etymology

Origin of immune response

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

For example, immune cells displayed different sugar patterns after being stimulated, similar to what happens during an immune response.

From Science Daily • May 18, 2026

RP1 was given in combination with an anti-PD-1 drug because its aim is to activate the immune response, and in doing so overcome resistance to other immunotherapies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

The study will examine whether the vaccine is safe and can generate a strong immune response.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

They also generally have a more active immune response, partly due to genetic factors like the X chromosome.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

In contrast, mice inoculated with the rough strain mounted an immune response and survived.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee