An individual gets infected by a gastroenteritis virus for the second time in fi
ID: 146387 • Letter: A
Question
An individual gets infected by a gastroenteritis virus for the second time in five years. Assume you are looking at one B cell that responds to a particular epitope from this virus to answer the following questions. Which type of B-cell (naïve, effector, memory) gets activated during the second exposure to this pathogen assuming it is responding to the same epitope? a. b. What does this B-cell need to become activated? c. What antibody isotype(s) is predominately secreted by the B-cell during this secondary response?Explanation / Answer
a. memory cells are activated in case of re-infection with same epitope (explanation: B cells (naive cells) on primary infection differentiate into plasma cells (effector cells) and B memory cells - that encounters the antigen with immediate effect on secondary infection)
b. The detection and binding of the antigen to the T helper cell (antigen presenting cell) activates the B memory cell on secondary infection
c. IgG antibody isotype secreting plasma cells are activated during secondary infection.