Final answer:
Passive immunity is acquired through the transfer of pre-formed antibodies from one individual to another, providing immediate but temporary protection. Active immunity involves the body producing its own antibodies and memory cells, resulting in long-lasting protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types of Immunity
The type of immunity acquired with the help of donor antibodies is referred to as passive immunity. This is because it involves the transfer of active antibodies, which are immune proteins, from one individual to another. Passive immunity grants immediate protection, but unlike active immunity, it doesn't involve the recipient's immune system creating memory cells, thus this protection is temporary.
In the context of vaccination, the immunity triggered is artificially acquired active immunity because the vaccine prompts the body's immune system to generate antibodies and immunological memory to fight off future infections of the same disease. Conversely, when a patient recovers from a cold naturally and gains natural active immunity, their body has effectively fought off the infection and developed immune memory without medical intervention, explaining why they don't get the same cold when re-exposed.
Natural passive immunity is exemplified by the transfer of antibodies from mother to child through the placenta or breast milk. This transfer equips the newborn with temporary immune protection inherited from the mother without the newborn's immune system having to encounter the pathogen directly.