Download Day 6 Basics of the Immune System B-Cells - Answer

Name:____________________________________________________Date:__________________Period:__________
The Basics of the Immune System: B-Cells - Day 6
Objective: Students will be able to describe the basics of B-Cells and their function
QUESTION:
The flu shot is a vaccine made up of weakened viruses. Why would we want to purposefully inject a
weakened pathogen (virus) into our healthy body?
Answers will vary
Part 1 - Research
Use the information below to describe what is happening in the images below:
The B lymphocyte cell searches for antigen matching its receptors. If it finds such antigen it connects to it, and inside the B cell a
triggering signal is set off. The B cell now needs proteins produced by helper T cells to become fully activated. When this happens, the
B cell starts to divide to produce clones of itself. During this process, two new cell types are created, plasma cells and B memory
cells.
The plasma cell is specialized in producing a specific protein, called an antibody, that will respond to the same antigen that matched
the B cell receptor. Antibodies are released from the plasma cell so that they can seek out intruders and help destroy them. Plasma
cells produce antibodies at an amazing rate and can release tens of thousands of antibodies per second.
When the Y-shaped antibody finds a matching antigen, it attaches to it. The attached antibodies serve as an appetizing coating for
eater cells such as the macrophage. Antibodies also neutralize toxins and incapacitate viruses, preventing them from infecting new
cells. Each branch of the Y-shaped antibody can bind to a different antigen, so while one branch binds to an antigen on one cell, the
other branch could bind to another cell - in this way pathogens are gathered into larger groups that are easier for phagocyte cells to
devour. Bacteria and other pathogens covered with antibodies are also more likely to be attacked by the proteins from the complement
system.
The Memory Cells are the second cell type produced by the division of B cells. These cells have a prolonged life span and can thereby
"remember" specific intruders. T cells can also produce memory cells with an even longer life span than B memory cells. The second
time an intruder tries to invade the body, B and T memory cells help the immune system to activate much faster. The invaders are
wiped out before the infected human feels any symptoms. The body has achieved immunity against the invader.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Antigen
Antibody
The B-Cell's antibody recognizes the
antigen on the bacteria.
The T-Helper cell helps the B-Cell
become activated.
The B-Cell then divides into two
types of B-Cells called plasma cells
and memory B-Cells.
Vocabulary to include in description: Antigen,
Antibody, B-Cell, and Bacteria
Vocabulary to include in description: B-Cell and
Helper T Cell
Vocabulary to include in description: B-Cell,
Plasma Cell, Memory B Cell
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
The plasma cell creates and releases
antibodies that attach to the
antigens on the bacteria cell.
The macrophage can easily
recognize and kill the bacteria cells
that have antibodies attached to
their antigens
The memory B-Cells learns to
remember the bacteria's antigen so
that the response to that bacterial
infection is faster the next time.
Vocabulary to include in description: Plasma Cell,
Antibodies, Antigens, and Bacteria
Vocabulary to include in description: Antibody,
Antigen, Bacteria, and Macrophage
Vocabulary to include in description: Antigen,
Antibody, Memory B-Cell, and Bacteria
Analysis
Terms
Antigens
vs
Antibodies
Plasma Cells
vs
Memory B Cells
How are they different?
Antigens are markers found on cells and especially foreign invaders. Antibodies are
markers on immune cells that recognize antigens.
Plasma cells mark bacteria with antibodies for destruction. Memory B-Cells develop an
antibody so that they can remember the foreign invader
Conclusion
Since B-Cells don't kill foreign invaders, what do they do to help protect us from diseases (especially diseases we have already been attacked by)?
Answers will vary, but should explain that plasma cells might not kill bacterial cells
they mark foreign invaders antigens with antibodies so that macrophages can find and
kill them easily. B-cells also make memory B-Cells that remember a bacterial invader's
antigens so that the body can respond to the bacterial disease quickly.

Antibody
 Macrophage
Terms you could include: Check them off as you write.
 Antigen
 B-Cell
 Memory B Cell
How many terms did you use?
Did you explain each term you used?
On a scale of 1-5 (5 being best) what score would you give yourself?
Teacher Score


Bacteria
Plasma Cell