immune response

noun

1. any of the body’s immunologic reactions to an antigen.

noun

1. the reaction of an organism’s body to foreign materials (antigens), including the production of antibodies

n.

1. An integrated bodily response to an antigen, especially one mediated by lymphocytes and involving recognition of antigens by specific antibodies or previously sensitized lymphocytes.

1. A protective response of the body’s immune system to an antigen, especially a microorganism or virus that causes disease. The immune response involves the action of lymphocytes that deactivate antigens either by stimulating the production of antibodies (humoral immune response) or by a direct attack on foreign cells (cell-mediated immune response.) An inability to produce a normal immune response results in immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS. See also cell-mediated immune response humoral immune response.