immunize

(verb)

In finance, interest rate immunization is a strategy that ensures that a change in interest rates will not affect the value of a portfolio. Similarly, immunization can be used to ensure that the value of a pension fund's or a firm's assets will increase or decrease in exactly the opposite amount of their liabilities, thus leaving the value of the pension fund's surplus or firm's equity unchanged, regardless of changes in the interest rate.

Related Terms

Examples of immunize in the following topics:

  • Natural Active Immunity

    • Naturally acquired active immunity occurs when a person is exposed to a live pathogen, develops the disease, and then develops immunity.
    • Immunity is the state of protection against infectious disease conferred either through an immune response generated by immunization or previous infection, or by other non-immunological factors.
    • Naturally acquired active immunity occurs when the person is exposed to a live pathogen, develops the disease, and becomes immune as a result of the primary immune response.
    • Immunization (commonly referred to as vaccination) is the deliberate induction of an immune response, and represents the single most effective manipulation of the immune system that scientists have developed .
    • The principle behind immunization is to introduce an antigen, derived from a disease-causing organism, that stimulates the immune system to develop protective immunity against that organism, but which does not itself cause the pathogenic effects of that organism.

  • Passive Immunization

    • Passive immunization can be exogenously administered (artificial) or transferred from mother to fetus (natural).
    • There are two types of passive immunity: artificial and natural .
    • For the newborn to have lasting protection, active immunity must be received.
    • Natural immunity occurs through contact with a disease causing agent, when the contact was not deliberate, where as artificial immunity develops only through deliberate actions of exposure.
    • Passive immunity is short lived, and usually lasts only a few months, whereas protection via active immunity lasts much longer, and is sometimes life-long.

  • Active and Passive Humoral Immunity

    • The humoral immune response is the aspect of immunity mediated by secreted antibodies.
    • The humoral immune response (HIR) is the aspect of immunity mediated by secreted antibodies produced by B cells.
    • Active humoral immunity refers to any form of immunity that occurs as a result of the formation of an adaptive immune response from the body's own immune system.
    • Passive immunity is the transfer of active humoral immunity in the form of ready-made antibodies from one individual to another.
    • Maternal passive immunity is a type of naturally-acquired passive immunity, and refers to antibody-mediated immunity conveyed to a fetus by its mother during pregnancy.

  • Primary and Secondary Antibody Responses

    • The immune system protects organisms from infection first with the innate immune system, then with adaptive immunity.
    • Innate immune systems are found in all plants and animals.
    • Both innate and adaptive immunity depend on the ability of the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self molecules.
    • This type of immunity is both active and adaptive because the body's immune system prepares itself for future challenges.
    • Active immunity often involves both the cell-mediated and humoral aspects of immunity as well as input from the innate immune system .

  • Types of Adaptive Immunity

    • The adaptive immune response is mediated by B and T cells and creates immunity memory.
    • The adaptive immune system mounts a stronger, antigen-specific immune response after the innate immune response fails to prevent a pathogen from causing an infection.
    • There are two subdivisions of the adaptive immune system: cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity.
    • Cell mediated immunity is controlled by type 1 helper T cells (Th1) and cytotoxic T cells.
    • Antibodies provide a number of functions in humoral immunity.

  • Overview of the Immune System

    • This process of acquired immunity is the basis of vaccination.
    • Innate immune systems are found in all plants and animals.
    • Adaptive immunity is often sub-divided into two major types depending on how the immunity was introduced.
    • Both naturally and artificially acquired immunity can be further subdivided depending on whether immunity is induced in the host or passively transferred from an immune host.
    • A further subdivision of adaptive immunity is characterized by the cells involved; humoral immunity is the aspect of immunity that is mediated by secreted antibodies, whereas the protection provided by cell-mediated immunity involves T lymphocytes alone.

  • Adaptive Immunity and the Immunoglobulin Superfamily

    • Adaptive immunity is stimulated by exposure to infectious agents and recruits elements of the immunoglobulin superfamily.
    • The components of adaptive immunity are lymphocytes and their products.
    • There are two types of adaptive immune responses: humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity.
    • They are commonly associated with roles in the immune system.
    • Describe the role of immunoglobulins in the adaptive immune response, specifically in humoral immunity

  • Artificial Immunity

    • Artificial immunity is a mean by which the body is given immunity to a disease by intentional exposure to small quantities of it.
    • Immunity is the state of protection against infectious disease conferred either through an immune response generated by immunization or by previous infection or other non-immunological factors.
    • Artificially-acquired passive immunity is an immediate, but short-term immunization provided by the injection of antibodies, such as gamma globulin, that are not produced by the recipient's cells.
    • Natural immunity occurs through contact with a disease causing agent, when the contact was not deliberate, where as artificial immunity develops only through deliberate actions of exposure.
    • Passive immunity is short lived, and usually lasts only a few months, whereas protection via active immunity lasts much longer, and is sometimes life-long.

  • Overview of Adaptive Immunity

    • The adaptive immune system works to protect and heal the body when the innate immune system fails.
    • The adaptive immune system starts to work after the innate immune system is activated.
    • The adaptive immune response occurs a few days after the innate immune response is initiated.
    • The major functions of the adaptive immune system include:
    • Adaptive immunity is triggered when a pathogen evades the innate immune system for long enough to generate a threshold level of an antigen.

  • Innate Immune Response

    • Mammalian immune systems evolved for protection from such pathogens.
    • However, we are born with only innate immunity, developing our adaptive immune response after birth.
    • Components of both immune systems constantly search the body for signs of pathogens.
    • When pathogens are found, immune factors are mobilized to the site of an infection.
    • Eosinophils play a variety of roles in the immune response.