BRAINCAKEHumoral Immunity
Humoral immunity produces antibodies.
There are millions of different B lymphocytes each with a different type of immunoglobulin IgM on its surface, each of theses antibodies specific for only one antigen.
When a Be cell encounters a the free natigens or the antigen on the pathogen, the antibody will bind to the antigen, the B cell will engulf the pathogen or antigen and will become and antigen-presenting cell.
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Key terms in this lesson
- mitosis
- Nuclear division producing two daughter nuclei that are genetically identical to the parent nucleus, used in growth, repair and asexual reproduction.
- pathogen
- A microorganism that causes disease.
- antigen
- A molecule, usually a protein, on the surface of a cell or pathogen that triggers an immune response.
- antibody
- A Y-shaped protein (immunoglobulin) produced by B plasma cells that binds specifically to a particular antigen.
- antigen-presenting cell
- A cell, such as a macrophage, that displays a foreign antigen on its surface combined with a major histocompatibility complex molecule, activating T helper cells.
More in Communicable Diseases
- Antibodies
- How Antibodies Work
- Lymphocytes
- Cell-Mediated Immunity
- Auto-Immune Diseases
- Natural Immunity
- Artificial Passive Immunity
- Artificial Active Immunity
All 40 lessons in Communicable Diseases · All OCR AS-level Biology topics