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5.1 identify the components of the immune response:

identify components of the immune response

  • antibodies
  • T cells
  • B cells
Name What it is What it does
antibodies proteins that the body produces when it detects antigens. Each different antigen stimulates the production of its own particular antibody. join with antigens so that they are clumped together and can be more easily recognised and destroyed by macrophages
B cell a special kind of lymphocyte produced in the bone marrow (thus B cell) When a B cell recognises an antigen, it divides repeatedly to produce a mass of identical cells (clones) that work as antibody producers (plasma cells).
T cell another kind of lymphocyte, that is passed through the thymus gland (thus T cell) Some produce toxic substances that destroy cells that have been invaded by a virus. Others help the B cells to divide rapidly.