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Immune memory
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Immunological memory is the reason the body responds far better the second time it meets the same invader. It arises together with the adaptive immune response, the part of the defense system that learns from what it has already seen, and it can last a lifetime and protect if the same antigen shows up again. An antigen is the marker that identifies an invader.
Memory B lymphocytes are long-lived cells. They are devoted to one particular antigen and switch on the moment they meet it again. It is a doorman who already has the visitor's face on file.
That is why the later response is fast and powerful. And the response a vaccine produces depends on that same immunity.
In brief
Immunological memory is the protection that arises with the adaptive immune response and can last a lifetime, protecting again if the same antigen shows up.
Memory B lymphocytes are long-lived cells, devoted to one particular antigen, that switch on when they meet it again.
It is a doorman who already has the visitor's face on file.
That is why the later response is fast and powerful, and the response to a vaccine depends on that same immunity.
Sources (2)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingPhysiology, Active Immunity, StatPearlsPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingPhysiology, Immune Response, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated