What type of immunity is generated by T cells?

• A. Humoral immunity
• B. Adaptive immunity
• C. Innate immunity
• D. Cell-mediated immunity

Answer: (D)

The correct answer is cell-mediated immunity, which is primarily generated by T cells. T cells are a type of lymphocyte that play a crucial role in the immune response by directly attacking infected or cancerous cells, and helping other immune cells in their function.

In cell-mediated immunity, T cells recognize antigens presented by infected or abnormal cells through their T cell receptors. Once activated, cytotoxic T cells can kill these infected cells, while helper T cells can enhance the immune response by facilitating the activation of other immune cells, including B cells and macrophages.

This form of immunity is distinct from humoral immunity, which is primarily mediated by antibodies produced by B cells. While both cell-mediated and humoral immunity are parts of adaptive immunity, the focus on T cells specifically aligns them with the cell-mediated immunity pathway. In contrast, innate immunity refers to the non-specific first line of defense against pathogens, which does not involve T cells. Thus, cell-mediated immunity is the best descriptor of the immunity that is generated by T cells.