Primary Immune Response
Primary Immune Response
When an individual is infected by a pathogen for the first time, a primary immune response takes place.
Slow
Slow
- The primary response is slow because it takes time for the antigens to be detected and the specific plasma cells to be activated.
- It may take several days for the pathogen to be removed by the immune system.
Symptoms
Symptoms
- In the primary immune response, the individual is likely to show the symptoms of the pathogen.
- The pathogen has time to cause harm to the individual before it is removed by the immune system.
Memory cells
Memory cells
- T cells and B cells can produce memory cells after an infection.
- Memory cells remain in the body after the infection has been removed.
- If the individual is infected again, there will be a much quicker response to the antigens.
