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5.4: B-lymphocytes and humoral immunity

Anatomy and Physiology7 CardsCreated 3 months ago

B cells are central to humoral immunity, producing specific antibodies in response to antigens. Through clonal selection, they divide and form plasma cells for rapid antibody production and memory cells for long-term immunity. This enables a faster, stronger secondary response upon re-infection, helping prevent illness.

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Explain the role of B cells in humoral immunity

-Each B cells produces a specific antibody that responds to a specific antigen

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Key Terms

Term
Definition

Explain the role of B cells in humoral immunity

-Each B cells produces a specific antibody that responds to a specific antigen

Describe the process of clonal selection

  1. Antibody on surface of B cell attaches to antigen

  2. Antigen enters the B cell by endocytosis and gets presented on its surface...

Define monoclonal antibodies

A clone of a specific antibody

Explain the role of plasma cells in the primary immune response

-Secrete antibodies into the blood plasma
-Only survive for a few days but rapidly produce antibodies which kill antigens

Explain the role of memory cells in the secondary immune response

  • Live for longer than plasma cells

  • Circulate in the blood and tissue fluid

  • When they encounter the antibody th...

How do memory cells provide long term immunity

On infection again antibodies are produced at a much faster rate. It ensures that a pathogen is destroyed before it can cause any harm

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5.4: B-lymphocytes and humoral immunity
TermDefinition

Explain the role of B cells in humoral immunity

-Each B cells produces a specific antibody that responds to a specific antigen

Describe the process of clonal selection

  1. Antibody on surface of B cell attaches to antigen

  2. Antigen enters the B cell by endocytosis and gets presented on its surface

  3. T helper cells bind to these antigens and stimulate the b cells o divide by mitosis to form a cloned identical b cells

  4. B cells all produce the antibody specific to the antigen

Define monoclonal antibodies

A clone of a specific antibody

Explain the role of plasma cells in the primary immune response

-Secrete antibodies into the blood plasma
-Only survive for a few days but rapidly produce antibodies which kill antigens

Explain the role of memory cells in the secondary immune response

  • Live for longer than plasma cells

  • Circulate in the blood and tissue fluid

  • When they encounter the antibody they divide rapidly and develop into plasma cells and memory cells
    -The plasma cells produce the antibody needed to destroy the pathogen
    -New memory cells circulate in blood ready for future infection

How do memory cells provide long term immunity

On infection again antibodies are produced at a much faster rate. It ensures that a pathogen is destroyed before it can cause any harm

Summarise the role of B cells in humoral immunity

  1. Surface antigens are taken up by B cell

  2. B cell presents antigens on surface

  3. Helper T cells attach to antigen and activate B cells

  4. B cells divide by mitosis to give a clone of plasma cells

  5. Plasma cells secrete the specific antibody for antigen

  6. Antibody attaches to antigen on pathogen and destroys them

  7. Some B cells develop into memory cells which respond to the same pathogen upon re-infection and divide by mitosis to produce plasma cells that secrete antibodies