6.10—B cells and T cells

A T cell with the matching receptor binds antigen presented on a cell surface, then divides by mitosis to make clones. The clones differentiate into helper, killer and memory T cells.

Helper T cells release signals that activate B cells; killer T cells destroy infected cells displaying the relevant antigen; memory T cells make a later response faster.

An infected body cell can present a viral antigen and activate a matching killer T cell. A helper T cell does not itself secrete the pathogen-specific antibody; it supports the B-cell response.

T-cell receptor specificity is not the same as antibody secretion. State the antigen-presenting cell and the T-cell subtype before describing the outcome.