Primary And Secondary Responses Flashcards
What is a primary response?
When an antigen enters the body for the first time it activates the immune system
Why is the primary response slow?
Because there aren’t many B-cells that can make the antibody needed to bind to it
Eventually the body will produce enough of the right antibody to overcome the infection
During the primary response, does the infected person show symptoms of the disease?
Yes
When are memory cells produced?
After being exposed to an antigen, the T and B-cells produce the memory cells
What do memory T-cells do?
Remember the specific antigen and will recognise it a second time round
What do memory B-cells do?
Record the specific antibodies needed to bind the antigen
What are memory cells?
Cells which remain in the body for a long time
Allows the immune system to respond quickly to a second infection of a disease
What is the secondary response?
If the same pathogen enters the body again, the immune system will produce a quicker, stronger immune response
What happens to clonal selection during the secondary response?
Happens faster
What happens to memory B-cells during secondary response?
Activated and divide into plasma cells that produce the right antibody to the antigen
What happens to the memory T-cells during secondary response?
Activated and divide into the correct type of T-cells to kill the cell carrying the antigen
Are symptoms shown during the secondary response?
No, often gets rid of pathogen before you begin to show any symptoms
