Specific Immune
Response
A specific immune response singles out one particular agent that can harm us and responds to that. For example if
we catch a certain virus, our specific immune system will destroy that particular virus. Specific immune responses in
Specific Immune
Response
B Cells
One type are called B lymphocytes, or simply, B Cells.
Specific Immune
Response
B Cells
And another type are called T lymphocytes, or simply T cells.
T Cells
Specific Immune
Response
B Cells
White
Blood
Cells
B cells and T cells are both types of white blood cells.
T Cells
Here, we’ll introduce you to B cells and what they do. B cells are made in the bone marrow, and
circulate in both the lymphatic system and the blood stream.
The Lymphatic
System
The lymphatic system is a system of vessels which carries a fluid called lymph around the body.
The lymphatic system plays a very important role in immunity. Many B cells are found here.
The Circulatory
System
The circulatory system is just another name for our blood stream. B cells also circulate through the
bloodstream to all parts of the body. They can quickly be carried to places they are needed.
An antigen is defined as
any substance that
causes an
immune response in the
body
An antigen is defined as any substance that causes an immune response in the body.
Antigens can be such things as toxic chemicals, bacteria, viruses, pollen, or mold.
An antigen is defined as
any substance that
causes an
immune response in the
body
These diagrams can represent antigens that have made their way into our body.
These little red marks
represent special molecules
antigens have on their surface.
These can be called markers.
Each type of antigen has its
own specific markers which can
be used for identification.
These little red marks represent special molecules antigens have on their surface.
These little red marks
represent special molecules
antigens have on their surface.
These can be called markers.
Each type of antigen has its
own specific markers which can
be used for identification.
These can be called markers.
These little red marks
represent special molecules
antigens have on their surface.
These can be called markers.
Each type of antigen has its
own specific markers which can
be used for identification.
Each type of antigen has its own specific markers which can be used for
identification.
These little red marks
represent special molecules
antigens have on their surface.
These can be called markers.
Each type of antigen has its
own specific markers which can
be used for identification.
All of the antigens shown here are the same type, so they have identical little red
markers shown on them.
Here is a B cell
Antibodies
The surface of B cells has Y-shaped molecules attached to it. These are called antibodies. These antibodies are
attached to the cell’s outer membrane. As we will see, free antibodies that are not attached, can also exist.
Receptors
On the ends of these antibodies there are special receptors. Our bodies produce
thousands of different varieties of B cells. Each variety has it’s own special receptors.
antigen
I’m
SPECIAL!
This particular B Cell has receptors that will (click) bind to the molecules on the surface of this
antigen. No other type of B cell will have receptors that will bind to this particular antigen. (CLICK)
We can watch our B cell binding to these antigens. When it is connected to antigens,
this B cell is ready to be activated.
chemical signals
from T-Cells
Chemical signals are sent to this B cell from other cells called T cells. You will learn more about T cells in another
video. Being connected to antigens and receiving these signals from T cells, stimulates this B cell to make many
clones, or identical copies of itself.
Here are a couple of those copies.
A factory
for
producing
antibodies
Some of the copies that are made become factories which can produce thousands of
free antibodies.
Watch as this cell keeps on producing these Y shaped antibodies. Notice, these antibodies are free to move around at
this point. (At the end say )They can, however, bind to the molecules on the surface of an antigen they are matched
to.
Watch as three antibodies bind to this antigen
After this B cell has produced enough antibodies, it will self-destruct.
(watch then click)
disabled and
marked for
an attack
This antigen now has antibodies sticking to it. These can disable it from doing harm in our
body. They also identify it as something that can be attacked by other white blood cells.
Here is a macrophage that comes along and destroys this structure.
Antiobdies can also do other things with antigens. Here is an antibody and two
antigens.
This single antibody can connect to both of these antigens.
This structure is
too large to pass
through cell
membranes.
So this antibody has clumped two of these antigens together. What is formed is quite a large structure. This structure
is too large to pass through cell membranes, so the antigen is now unable to infect new cells.
Marked for
attack!
It is also identified as being able to be attacked and destroyed by other white blood
cells.
Most of these particular B cells that were made will self-destruct once the immune response is over and the antigens
have been destroyed. However a few B cells of this variety remain in the body for a long time.
A
Memory
B Cell
These are called memory B cells.
A
Memory
B Cell
I’m
back!
Gotcha!
So if that same antigen ever enters our body again, at a later time (click), we already have some B cells that
(click) have just the right receptors to attach to it and disable it before it does any harm (click).
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our
body responds with B cells that will :
 Bind to them.
 With the help of T-Cells, make many copies of
themselves.
 Some of these copies produce antibodies which
disable the antigens and identify them for
attack.
 Some copies of these B cells will stay in the
body as Memory B Cells.
 These will increase the body’s immunity to
future attacks by the same antigen.
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our body responds with B cells that will :
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our
body responds with B cells that will :
 Bind to them.
 With the help of T-Cells, make many copies of
themselves.
 Some of these copies produce antibodies which
disable the antigens and identify them for
attack.
 Some copies of these B cells will stay in the
body as Memory B Cells.
 These will increase the body’s immunity to
future attacks by the same antigen.
Bind to them.
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our
body responds with B cells that will :
 Bind to them.
 With the help of T-Cells, make many copies of
themselves.
 Some of these copies produce antibodies which
disable the antigens and identify them for
attack.
 Some copies of these B cells will stay in the
body as Memory B Cells.
 These will increase the body’s immunity to
future attacks by the same antigen.
and with the help of T-Cells, make many copies of themselves.
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our
body responds with B cells that will :
 Bind to them.
 With the help of T-Cells, make many copies of
themselves.
 Some of these copies produce antibodies which
disable the antigens and identify them for
attack.
 Some copies of these B cells will stay in the
body as Memory B Cells.
 These will increase the body’s immunity to
future attacks by the same antigen.
Some of these copies become factory cells which produce antibodies. These antibodies
disable the antigens and identify them for attack.
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our
body responds with B cells that will :
 Bind to them.
 With the help of T-Cells, make many copies of
themselves.
 Some of these copies produce antibodies which
disable the antigens and identify them for
attack.
 Some copies of these B cells will stay in the
body as Memory B Cells.
 These will increase the body’s immunity to
future attacks by the same antigen.
And some copies of these B cells will remain in the body and act as what are called
Memory B Cells.
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our
body responds with B cells that will :
 Bind to them.
 With the help of T-Cells, make many copies of
themselves.
 Some of these copies produce antibodies which
disable the antigens and identify them for
attack.
 Some copies of these B cells will stay in the
body as Memory B Cells.
 These will increase the body’s immunity to
future attacks by the same antigen.
These will increase the body’s immunity to future attacks by the same antigen. If the same antigen enters our body
at a future time, these memory B cells will recognize it and disable it before it can do much harm.
As we are exposed to more types of antigens, our
body responds with B cells that will :
 Bind to them.
 With the help of T-Cells, make many copies of
themselves.
 Some of these copies produce antibodies which
disable the antigens and identify them for
attack.
 Some copies of these B cells will stay in the
body as Memory B Cells.
 These will increase the body’s immunity to
future attacks by the same antigen.
If you like, you could pause the video, take a screen shot of this and copy it to study
from.
Acknowledgements for Images Used
"Diagram of the lymphatic system CRUK 041"
by Cancer Research UK - Original email from
CRUK. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via
Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diag
ram_of_the_lymphatic_system_CRUK_041.svg
#/media/File:Diagram_of_the_lymphatic_syste
m_CRUK_041.svg
Acknowledgements for Images Used
"Circulatory System en" by LadyofHats, Mariana Ruiz Villarreal
- Did myself based in the information and diagrams found
in:"gray's anatomy" thirty sixth edition by Williams &
Warwick."Sobotta Atlas der Anatomie des menschen" volume
1 and 2 18.Auflage by Urban & Schwarzenberg"Atlas
fotografico de anatomia del cuerpo humano" 3a edicion by
Yokochi, Rohen & Weinrebmultiple websites included:[1], [2],
[3], [4], [5], [6], and others.This file has Outlined text. if you
seek an Editable text version please use File:Circulatory
System en edited.svg. or open one of the older versions of this
file (down on the file history)-LadyofHats (talk) 21:42, 30
March 2010 (UTC). Licensed under Public Domain via
Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Circulatory_System_
en.svg#/media/File:Circulatory_System_en.svg