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B Cell Development definitions

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  • B Cell
    A lymphocyte responsible for producing highly specific antibodies as part of the adaptive immune response.
  • Antibody
    A protein molecule that binds to a unique antigen, marking pathogens for destruction by the immune system.
  • Antigen
    A molecular sequence on a pathogen recognized as foreign, triggering a targeted immune response.
  • Self-Tolerance
    A property ensuring immune cells do not react against the body's own tissues, preventing autoimmunity.
  • Autoimmune Disease
    A condition resulting from immune cells attacking the body's own tissues due to loss of self-recognition.
  • Vaccination
    A preventive method that primes the immune system by exposing it to antigens, leading to future protection.
  • Primary Immune Response
    The initial, mild immune reaction upon first exposure to a pathogen or vaccine antigen.
  • Secondary Immune Response
    A rapid and robust immune reaction upon subsequent exposures to a previously encountered antigen.
  • Clonal Selection Theory
    A model explaining how only specific lymphocytes are activated and expanded upon antigen exposure.
  • Naive Cell
    An immune cell that has not yet encountered its specific antigen and remains unactivated.
  • Effector Cell
    An activated immune cell that produces large amounts of antibodies to combat a current infection.
  • Memory Cell
    A long-lived immune cell that persists after infection, enabling rapid response to future exposures.
  • Adaptive Immune Response
    A highly specific defense mechanism involving lymphocytes that target and remember unique pathogens.
  • Proliferation
    The rapid multiplication of activated immune cells to increase antibody production during infection.