Inherent immune memory and the characteristics of the adaptive immune memory
| Characteristics | IIM | Adaptive immune memory |
|---|---|---|
| Organism | Plants, invertebrates, vertebrates | Higher vertebrates |
| Cells | Monocytes/macrophages, NK cells, granulocytes, ILC | T and B lymphocytes |
| Mechanism | Epigenetic reprogramming, cell metabolic change | Antigen-specific gene rearrangement |
| Lasting time | Weeks to months | Years |
| Specificity | No | Yes |