Question

Newborns receive large amounts of - through the placenta from their mothers, this confers immunity for the first 3 to 6 months of life for antigens to which the mother was previously exposed

Answer 1

Passive immunity arises from the transfer of antibodies to an individual without requiring them to mount their own active immune response. This naturally occurs during fetal development and provides protection to the newborn for the first few months of its life.

Step-by-step explanation:

Passive immunity arises from the transfer of antibodies to an individual without requiring them to mount their own active immune response.

Naturally acquired passive immunity is seen during fetal development. IgG is transferred from the maternal circulation to the fetus via the placenta, protecting the fetus from infection and protecting the newborn for the first few months of its life.

As already stated, a newborn benefits from the IgA antibodies it obtains from milk during breastfeeding.

The fetus and newborn thus benefit from the immunological memory of the mother to the pathogens to which she has been exposed.