Which type of response characterizes innate immunity?

Innate immunity is characterized by an immediate and non-specific response to pathogens. This form of immunity serves as the body’s first line of defense and is activated upon encountering pathogens. It does not require prior exposure to generate a response, meaning that it reacts the same way each time it encounters a pathogen, regardless of whether the body has faced it before. Components of innate immunity include physical barriers like skin, phagocytic cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, and various proteins and cells involved in inflammatory responses.

This immediate action helps to contain and eliminate potential threats quickly, which is crucial for preventing the spread of infection before the more specific adaptive immune response kicks in. In distinction to this, options that mention specificity, memory, or delayed responses pertain to adaptive immunity, which is refined through experience and works more effectively over time following initial exposure to particular pathogens.