Immune Activities of B Cells

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the immune activities of B cells, including their activation, types, and the functions of antibodies.

B cells

Develop in the bone marrow and act as antigen presenting cells that bind specific antigens with B cell receptors (BCRs), which are also Immunoglobulins (Igs).

B cell activation

The process by which B cells recognize microbes and their antigens, leading to cell enlargement, proliferation, and differentiation after interacting with T helper cells.

Plasma cells

Large, specialized, terminally differentiated B cells that secrete large amounts of antibodies specific to the B cell’s original receptor.

Memory B cells

Persistent cells that remain in lymphatic circulation and can react with the same antigen upon future exposures.

Antibody

A protein produced by plasma cells that bind to specific antigens, thereby marking them for destruction or neutralization.

Opsonization

The process by which antibodies coat a microbe, making it more easily phagocytosed by immune cells.

Neutralization

A function of antibodies that involves filling surface receptors on a virus or the active site of a bacterial protein to prevent them from attaching to target cells.

Agglutination

The aggregation or clumping of cells or particles caused by antibodies, which renders microbes immobile and enhances phagocytosis.

Complement fixation

A process where antibodies bound to the surface of a microorganism activate the complement system, leading to the lysis of the cell.

Immunoglobulin classes

Five functional classes (isotopes) of immunoglobulins including IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE, each with different functions and characteristics.