Which category of immunity relies on the ability to remember specific pathogens?

The category of immunity that relies on the ability to remember specific pathogens is adaptive immunity. This type of immunity is characterized by its capacity to recognize and respond more effectively to pathogens that the body has encountered previously. Adaptive immunity develops specific responses to each pathogen, creating a "memory" for future encounters. This memory allows for a quicker and more robust immune response upon subsequent exposures to the same pathogen, which is the basis for immunity conferred by vaccinations.

In contrast, innate immunity is the body's first line of defense and responds to all pathogens in a generic way without memory. Passive immunity involves the transfer of antibodies from one individual to another, providing temporary protection without the body's own immune system generating a response. Autoimmunity refers to a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells, which is unrelated to the memory aspect of pathogen recognition.