Role of B cells in Humoral Immunity Flashcards
How does a B cell recognise a pathogen?
It takes up the pathogen’s surface antigens
What happens after a B cell takes up the antigen?
It processes the antigen and presents it on its surface
How are B cells activated?
Helper T cells attach to the processed antigens on the B cell and activate it
What does an activated B cell do?
It divides by mitosis to form a clone of plasma cells
How do antibodies help destroy pathogens?
They bind to antigens on the pathogen, leading to its destruction
What do plasma cells secrete?
Specific antibodies that exactly match the antigen
What do some B cells develop into after activation?
Memory cells
What is the function of memory cells?
They provide long - term immunity by responding rapidly to reinfection
How do memory cells respond to a future infection?
They divide rapidly into plasma cells that produce antibodies
What is the secondary immune response?
A faster, stronger immune response when the same pathogen invades again
What are the 7 steps of the role B cells have in humoral immunity?
1)The surface antigens of an invading pathogen are taken up by a B cell
2) The B cell processes the antigens and presents them on its surface
3) Helper T cells attach to the processed antigen on the B cell, thereby activating the B cell
4) B cell now activated to divide by mitosis to give a clone of plasma cells
5) Cloned plasma cells produce and secrete the specific antibody that exactly fits the antigen on the pathogen’s surface
6) The antibody attaches to antigens on the pathogen and destroys them
7) Some B cells develop into memory cells, so to respond t future infections by the same pathogen by dividing rapidly and developing into plasma cells that produce antibodies
