It is known as humoral immunity because it involves antibodies
When an antigen (e.g a protein on the surface of a pathogen cell), there would be a B cell that is complementary
Most pathogens have more than one proteins on its surface, requiring more than one type of B cell
Bacterium can also release toxins, which can act as antigens, requiring more variated antibodies
Plasma Cells secrete antibodies directly. These only last a few days, but make 2000 antibodies a second.
These antibodies destroy antigens directly, this means that plasma cells are responsible for primary response
Memory Cells, can live for decades, floating around in blood plasma. When they encounter a recognizable antigen, they divide rapidly, eventually turning into plasma cells
This is known as Secondary Immune Response
Secondary response is a lot faster and greater intensity
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How B Cell immunity takes place
The surface antigens that are present on the pathogens are taken up by B Cells
The B cells process these antigens and present them on there surface
T cells then attach to the processed antigen, activating the B cell
The activated B cells then miotically divide to give a clone of the plasma cells
The cloned plasma cells then produce antibodies that are complimentary to the antigens present of the pathogen
The antibodies attach to the presented antigen and destroy it. This is primary response.
Antigenic Variability is where one pathogen can change the antigen that is presented, for example, influenza
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