anamnestic response

noun phrase

Meaning

A rapid and heightened immune reaction that occurs upon re-exposure to an antigen that the body has previously encountered.

Examples

  • The anamnestic response ensures that the immune system remembers past infections to fight them off more efficiently.
  • Vaccines are designed to trigger an anamnestic response so that the body is prepared for future exposure to a pathogen.

Synonyms: secondary immune response, immune memory, booster effect, recall response