B-lymphocytes and antibodies

Question 1

what is the role of B lymphocytes?

Answer 1

• they produce antibodies tp protect us from infection
• they bind to a virus and which prevents it from entering a normal cell and causing infection

Question 2

what are the two types of B cells?

Answer 2

• B memory cells
• B plasma cells

Question 3

where are B lymphocytes made?

Answer 3

made in the bone marrow and mature in the spleen

Question 4

which B cells are long and short lived?

Answer 4

B memory cells are long lived whereas B plasma cells are short lived

Question 5

what is the role of B memory cells?

Answer 5

they remember particular antigens so they can be recognised if they appear in the body again to fight against them.

Question 6

what is the role of B plasma cells?

Answer 6

they secrete antibodies specific to the antigen to destroy specific pathogens to prevent further harm to the body.

Question 7

what is agglutination and its purpose?

Answer 7

• the clumping together of pathogens
• this prevents them from going on to infect more cells
• also makes it easier for phagocytes to engulf multiple pathogens

Question 8

what are the different ways antibodies can act?

Answer 8

• agglutination
• aid phagocytosis
• neutralization

Question 9

how do antibodies aid phagocytosis?

Answer 9

• phagocytes can easily recognise antigen-antibody complexes
• antibody heavy chain binds to the surface
• allows engulfment

Question 10

how does neutralization occur?

Answer 10

antibodies bind to attachment proteins on the virus - this stops the virus particles from being able to bind to host cells.

Question 11

what is the purpose of the receptor binding site (in the structure of an antibody)

Answer 11

they bind to receptors on B cells