Question

The acquired ability to prevent an unnecessary or destructive immune reaction to a harmless foreign particle, such as a food protein, is called ________.

a) Immunodeficiency
b) Tolerance
c) Hypersensitivity
d) Autoimmunity

Answer 1

The term for the acquired ability to prevent an unnecessary or destructive immune reaction to harmless foreign particles is called 'immune tolerance.'

Step-by-step explanation:

The acquired ability to prevent an unnecessary or destructive immune reaction to a harmless foreign particle, such as a food protein, is called immune tolerance. This crucial physiological process involves the immune system recognizing and not reacting harmfully to substances that are not actually threats, preventing the immune system from attacking 'self' or harmless substances. Specialized cells called regulatory T (Treg) cells play a pivotal role in maintaining immune tolerance by suppressing local inflammation and inhibiting the release of stimulatory immune factors, thus preventing undesired immunologic activation and inflammation. These processes allow the body to maintain mucosal homeostasis and focus its defense mechanisms on genuine pathogens.