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AAT Bioquest

What are the differences between artificial passive immunity and natural passive immunity?

Posted November 7, 2023


Answer

Artificial Passive Immunity

Artificial passive immunity is administered by injection and is typically used in two types of scenarios. It may be used as an emergency treatment for toxicity, such as a tetanus injection after getting bitten from a potentially rabies-infected animal. In this case, administration of the appropriate antisera provides artificial passive immunity. It may also be used as a preventative measure or treatment measure when there is a risk of infection in case of an outbreak of a particular disease.

Natural Passive Immunity

Natural passive immunity occurs naturally during pregnancy when antibodies pass across the placenta from the mother to the unborn child. After birth, antibodies found in breast milk get transferred to the newborn, continuing to protect the newborn against corresponding infections in the weeks and months after birth. This form of natural passive immunity offers vital protection to infants until such time that their immune system matures sufficiently to offer the required protection. 

Additional resources

Passive Immunization

Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

iFluor® 488 PSA™ Imaging Kit with Goat Anti-Mouse IgG