Antibodies and the Immune Response - Human Immune System
B cells
The main function of B cells is to produce antibodies. Antibodies are complex molecules produced by the immune system in response to antigens. As mentioned previously, antigens are foreign proteins or glycoproteins (a sugar linked to a protein) that trigger the immune response. Every living cell produces several different proteins, each unique to its own cell type and species. The antibody produced against the antigen is entirely specific to that antigen. (more…)






Cells participating in the cellular immune response are organized into discrete associated lymphoid tissues and organs which are spread through the connective tissues of non lymphoid organs. Lymphocyte cell are responsible for the specificity of the cellular immune response. Approximately 2 x 1012 lymphocytes constitute the mature lymphoid system in humans together with a variety of ‘accessory’ cells which include epithelial cells, monocyte or macrophages cells and other antigen-presenting cells. Accessory cells are neede both for the maturation and for the effector cells functions of lymphocytes.
Bacteria cause disease because of toxicity, invasiveness, immunopathology, or lends of these three mechanisms. Thus much of the interaction between a given bacterial species and the cellular immune response can be predicted by considering the immunological mechanisms available in relation to the mechanism of pathogenicity, and the structure of the bacterium. For a toxigenic bacterium, neutralizing antibody may be all that is needed. Otherwise destruction of the organism itself may be required.