Textbook Question
What is the difference between an epitope and an antigen?
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Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 48, Problem 6
What steps are required for most B cells to become fully activated and differentiate into plasma cells?
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Antigen Recognition - B cells recognize specific antigens through their B cell receptors (BCRs). The BCRs bind to antigens that match their specific shape, initiating the activation process.
Step 2: Antigen Processing and Presentation - After binding, the B cell internalizes the antigen and processes it into smaller peptides. These peptides are then presented on the surface of the B cell bound to MHC class II molecules.
Step 3: T Helper Cell Interaction - The processed antigens presented on the B cell surface are recognized by T helper cells (specifically, Th2 cells). The T helper cells bind to the antigen-MHC II complex through their T cell receptors (TCRs).
Step 4: Co-stimulatory Signals and Cytokine Secretion - The interaction between the B cell and T helper cell leads to the delivery of co-stimulatory signals. T helper cells also secrete cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5, which are crucial for B cell proliferation and differentiation.
Step 5: Differentiation into Plasma Cells - With signals from both the antigen binding and T helper cells, B cells undergo proliferation and differentiation into plasma cells. Plasma cells are specialized for producing and secreting large amounts of antibodies specific to the antigen.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
B Cell Activation
B cell activation is the process by which naive B cells recognize specific antigens through their B cell receptors (BCRs). This recognition is often enhanced by the presence of helper T cells, which provide necessary signals through cytokines and direct cell-to-cell interactions. The initial activation leads to clonal expansion, where activated B cells proliferate and prepare for differentiation.
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Helper T Cells and B Cells
Role of T Helper Cells
T helper cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, play a crucial role in B cell activation. Upon recognizing an antigen presented by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), T helper cells release cytokines that stimulate B cells. This interaction is essential for the full activation of B cells, leading to their differentiation into plasma cells that produce antibodies.
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Differentiation into Plasma Cells
Differentiation into plasma cells is the final step in the B cell response, where activated B cells transform into antibody-secreting cells. This process is driven by signals from T helper cells and involves changes in gene expression that enable the production of large quantities of antibodies. Plasma cells are critical for the adaptive immune response, providing long-lasting immunity against specific pathogens.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
What is one of the differences between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells?
a. CD4+ cells are immature, and CD8+ cells are mature.
b. CD4+ cells are activated, and CD8+ cells are not.
c. CD4+ cells interact with class II MHC proteins, and CD8+ cells interact with class I MHC proteins.
d. CD4+ cells activate cell-mediated responses, and CD8+ cells activate humoral responses.
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Textbook Question
Explain how gene recombination leads to the production of vast numbers of different B-cell receptors.
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Textbook Question
Why is clonal selection necessary for the adaptive immune response but not the innate immune response? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F The adaptive immune response uses receptors to recognize pathogens, and the innate immune response does not.
T/F There is more receptor diversity in the adaptive immune response than in the innate immune response.
T/F Cells in the innate immune response do not require activation, and those in the adaptive immune response do.
T/F Clonal selection is used for targeting pathogens, and the innate immune response is used only to stop blood flow from the wound.
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Textbook Question
What would a vaccine have to contain to protect a patient from chicken pox? Explain why we don't have vaccines for HIV.
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Textbook Question
Which of the following outcomes would be expected if somatic hypermutation did not occur?
a. The diversity of pattern-recognition receptors would be significantly lowered.
b. B and T lymphocytes would not be able to produce receptors that recognize antigens.
c. The adaptive immune response would not be activated by pathogens.
d. The secondary immune response to a repeat infection would produce the same antibodies as those made in the primary immune response.
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