A patient consumed food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. However, the patient did not become ill. The doctor explained to the patient that the acidity of the patient's stomach can kill many organisms, including bacteria. This type of protection would be classified as?

• A. Adaptive immunity; which provides nonspecific immunity.
• B. Adaptive immunity; which provides immunity against specific pathogens.
• C. Innate immunity; which provides nonspecific immunity.
• D. Innate immunity; which provides immunity against specific pathogens.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the two main types of immunity: innate and adaptive. Innate immunity is the body's first line of defense and provides nonspecific protection against pathogens. Adaptive immunity, on the other hand, is specific and develops in response to exposure to specific pathogens.
2. Consider the scenario where the stomach's acidity is mentioned as a protective factor. The stomach's acidic environment is a physical barrier that can destroy many types of bacteria, regardless of their specific identity. This is a characteristic of innate immunity.
3. Innate immunity includes physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes, as well as chemical barriers such as stomach acid. These barriers act immediately and do not require prior exposure to a pathogen to be effective.
4. Adaptive immunity involves the production of antibodies and the activation of immune cells that specifically target and remember pathogens. This type of immunity is not involved in the immediate destruction of bacteria by stomach acid.
5. Conclude that the protection provided by the stomach's acidity is an example of innate immunity, which offers nonspecific protection against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria.