1. Antigen-presenting cells engulf and breakdown antigens that are invading the host
organism via the usage of Lysozyme
2. Broken down antigens combine with MHC 2 proteins and are presented to the surface of the APC
3. Helper T cells recognise the MHC-2 and antigen complex and bind to the APC
4. The binding activates the APC to release cytokines that activate the Helper T cell
5. The activated helper T cell then releases cytokines that help it proliferate causes more T cells
to be made with the specific MHC-2 complex receptor
Effector phase
6. A B-cell with an igm-receptor that corresponds to the antigen attaches to the pathogen
7. The antigen is then engulfed with the receptor and they are both degraded via lysozyme
8. The MHC-2 and antigen bind to form the MHC-2 complex and are presented onto the surface of the B-cell
9. The helper T-cell and B-cell bind causing the helper T-cell to release cytokines
that cause the B-cell to proliferate into many identical B-cells
10. The new B-cells either form plasma cells or memory cells
10.1. Plasma cells release antibodies that are specific to the antigen present and
bind to the antigen via lock and key for killer cells to attach, engulf and breakdown
10.2. Memory cells remain after the infection is treated incase the antigen attacks again
Cellular Responce
Activation Phase
1. Antigen-presenting cells engulf and breakdown antigens that are invading the host organism via
the usage of Lysozyme
2. Broken down antigens combine with MHC 2 proteins and are presented to the surface of the APC
3. Whilst this occurs the virus infects epithelial cells, these cells also use lysozyme to
breakdown the antigen and present it with MHC 1 to the surface
4. A helper T cell recognises the MHC-2 and antigen complex on the APC
5. The helper T cell release singling proteins bringing more and more helper T cells, Cytotoxic T cells (CD8+)
Effector Phase
6. Cytotoxic T cells recognise the MHC1 and antigen complex presented on the endothelial cells and bind to the complex
7. The binding causes the release of Perforin, which punches holes into the infected cells causing lysis
8. As the infection comes under control regulatory T cells inactivate the Cytotoxic T cells
9. Memory T cells remain behind incase the infection begins to attack again
Is activated when a cell is already infected
B cells
General Facts
15% of lymphocytes
Matures in bone marrow
Generally need T cells for activation
Effective antigen presenting cells
Antigen recognition
MHC 2 is unregulated
Anti CD40 induce B cells response to Ab-Ag + IL-4= mimics T cell
No further signal from IL-4 or BCR = cell death
B cell after differentiation into plasma cells helped by T
cells, become Antibody factories
T cells
General facts
Two types
CD4+ 65%
CD8+ 35%
Originates in bone marrow but matures in the thymus
After negative and positive selection at the thymus they acquire
the capacity to distinguish self from non self.
Antigen recognition
The combination of TCR binding peptide with either the
MHC 1 or MHC 2 allows the T cell to recognise antigens
For recognition TCR must bind with other accessory
proteins to make a TCR complex
The signal is not transduced by the TCR but by the accessory proteins,
which causes a cascade of events causing cell action
T cell receptors recognize peptides only when they are presented by the MHC