Antigens Interact With Specific Lymphocytes, Inducing Immune Responses And Immunological Memory. A

Antigens Interact With Specific Lymphocytes, Inducing Immune Responses And Immunological Memory.

Although it encounters a large repertoire of B cells and T cells in the body, a microorganism interacts only with lymphocytes bearing receptors specific for its various antigenic molecules. The "selection" of a lymphocyte by one of the microbe's antigen activates the lymphocyte, stimulating it to divide and to differentiate. Eventually the lymphocyte forms two clones of cells. One clone consists of a large number of effecter, short-lived cells that combat the same antigen. The other clone consists of memory cells, long-lived cells bearing receptors specific for the same antigen. This antigen-driven cloning of lymphocytes is called clone selection.

Each lymphocyte helps fight
a) only one specific type of pathogen or foreign molecule
b) a group of pathogens (ex: fungi)
c) B cells and T cells only
d) Cloning, which can damage the immune system