primary immune response

• when an antigen enters the body for the first time, it activates the immune system. this is called the primary response
• primary response is slow because there aren't many B-cells that can create specific antibodies to the antigen
• eventually the body will produce enough of the right antibody to overcome the infection. meanwhile the person will show symptoms
• after being exposed to an antigen, T-cells and B-cells produce memory cells which remain in the body for a long time
• memory B-cells record the specific antibodies needed to bind an antigen
• memory T-cells remember the specific antigen and will recognise it second time round