Acquired immune system
![A scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a single human lymphocyte](/Images/godic/202502/12/SEM_Lymphocyte1803.jpg")
![Antigen presentation stimulates T cells to become either](/Images/godic/202502/12/Antigen_presentation.svg1803.png")
![The T lymphocyte activation pathway. T cells contribute to immune defenses in two major ways: some direct and regulate immune responses; others directly attack infected or cancerous cells.[5]](/Images/godic/202502/12/T_cell_activation.svg1803.png")
![The B lymphocyte activation pathway. B cells function to protect the host by producing antibodies that identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses.[5]](/Images/godic/202502/12/B_cell_activation.svg1803.png")
The adaptive immune system, also known as the acquired immune system or, more rarely, as the specific immune system, is a subsystem of the overall immune system that is composed of highly specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminate or prevent pathogen growth. The adaptive immune system is one of the two main immunity strategies found in vertebrates (the other being the innate immune system). Adaptive immunity creates immunological memory after an initial response to a specific pathogen, and leads to an enhanced response to subsequent encounters with that pathogen. This process of acquired immunity is the basis of vaccination. Like the innate system, the adaptive system includes both humoral immunity components and cell-mediated immunity components.