humoral response

• B lymphocytes (B cells)


  Lymphocytes (white blood cells) involved in the specific immune response to particular antigens
• Humoral response


  The immune response involving B cells and antibodies
• 1. cell activation


  1. B cell takes in antigen by endocytosis

  2. Presents antigen on cell surface

  3. Activated by helper T cell

  4. Undergoes clonal expansion and differentiation
• Plasma cells


  B cells that produce antibodies
• Memory B cells


  B cells that can rapidly divide into plasma cells upon re-exposure to antigen
• Primary immune response


  First exposure to antigen, slower antibody production
• Secondary immune response


  Re-exposure to antigen, rapid antibody production from memory B cells
• Antibodies


  Quaternary structure proteins with variable regions that bind to specific antigens
• Agglutination


  Antibodies bind to multiple antigens, causing them to clump together
• Agglutination helps phagocytes more efficiently engulf and destroy pathogens