BRAINCAKEPrimary and Secondary Immune Response
The primary immune response is the production of antibodies and memory cells. B plasma cells can make about 2000 antibodies every second and only last a few days. The antibodies help to destroy the pathogen.
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Key terms in this lesson
- pathogen
- A microorganism, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus or protoctist, that causes disease.
- antigen
- A protein or glycoprotein, usually on a cell surface, that is recognised as foreign by the immune system and triggers an immune response.
- antibody
- A Y-shaped protein, made of four polypeptide chains with variable regions complementary to a specific antigen, produced by B plasma cells.
- B-lymphocyte
- A type of white blood cell, matured in the bone marrow, responsible for the humoral immune response and antibody production.
More in Cell Recognition and the Immune System
- Lymphocytes
- Cell-Mediated Immunity
- Cytotoxic T-cells
- Humoral Immunity
- Antibody Structure
- Antibody Function
- Monoclonal Antibodies
- Drug Delivery and Therapy
All 30 lessons in Cell Recognition and the Immune System · All AQA AS-level Biology topics