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. |