What are the features (characteristics) of acquired immunity?

Acquired immunity is also known as adaptive immunity or specific immunity. It is a type of learned immunity that is triggered when an individual’s immune system encounters foreign invaders. 

Characteristics of acquired immunity include the following: 

• Specificity: Acquired immunity can recognize and target specific pathogens or antigens, such as particular strains of bacteria or viruses. This is due to its antigen receptors. 
• Immunologic Memory: Once exposed to a pathogen, the acquired immune system remembers and recognizes it, allowing for a faster and more efficient response if the same pathogen is encountered again in the future, even after several years. The memory and response are highly specific to the macromolecule or pathogen.  
• Diversity: The adaptive immune system can generate a vast array of immune receptors to respond to millions of different pathogens.
• Discrimination between self and non-self: It can distinguish between self (host) cells and non-self (foreign) antigens, preventing the immune system from attacking the body's own cells and tissues.