B
lymphocytes are also known as B cells.
B cells are part of the
immune response. They are responsible for the
humoral response in fighting against a virus or bacteria.
B cells, types of lymphocytes, develop in the
bone marrow.
They fight specifically against
free bacteria,
toxins, and
viruses in
body fluids (hence the
humoral response).
The cells involved in the
defensive response of the humoral response are the
plasma cells,
memory cells, and helper T cells which activate the B-
cells.
B-cells that have come in contact with an
antigen display pieces of the antigen on the surface of the cell.
The B-cell is
activated by a helper
T-cell when they bind together. The B-cell proliferates and
differentiates and grows into a clone of plasma cells and
memory cells.
The plasma cells secrete
antibodies specific to the antigen, which tag cells for
destruction by
phagocytosis or lysis.