The Immune

System
 Antigens
• Antigens are molecules (usually proteins or
polysaccharides) found on the surface of cells.

• When a pathogen invades the body, the

antigens on its surface are identified as foreign,
which activates cells in the immune system.

• There are four main stages involved in the

immune response:
 Phagocytes Engulf A phagocyte recognises the
antigen on a pathogen.

Pathogens The cytoplasm of the

A phagocyte is a type of cell that carries out phagocytosis. phagocyte moves around the
pathogen, engulfing it.
They are found in the blood and in the tissues and are the
first cell to respond to a pathogen inside the body.
This pathogen is now
contained in a phagocytic
vacuole in the cytoplasm of
the phagocyte.

A lysosome fuses with the

vacuole and it’s enzymes break
down the pathogen.

The phagocyte then presents

the pathogen’s antigens on its
surface to activate other
immune systems.
 T-Cells
It has
proteins on
It recognizes
its surface
A T-cell is foreign
Phagocytes which bind This
just a type antigens on
activate T- to the activates the
of white the surface
cells. antigen T-cell.
blood cell. of the
carrying
phagocytes.
cells
(pathogens).

Different types Some attach to

antigens on the
of T-cell respond Some release
substances to activate pathogen and kill the
in different B-cells (helper T-cells) cell.
ways: (killer T-cells)
 B-cells
• B-cells are also a type When the antibody on the surface of the b-
of white blood cell. cell meets a complimentary antigen it binds
to it
• They’re covered with
This, together with the substances T-cells
antibodies (proteins that release, activated the b-cells
bind to an antigen to
form an antibody-
antigen complex) The activated b-cell divides into plasma cells

• Each B-cell has a

different shaped
antibody on its
membrane, which are
all specific to a certain
antigen.
 Plasma Cells
They secrete
Plasma cells loads of the
are identical antibody Antibody functions include:
to B-cells. specific to the
antigen.

Coating the
Coating the Binding to the
pathogen to
pathogen to antigen and
make it easier
prevent it from neutralising
for the
entering host toxins produced
phagocyte to
cells by the antigen
engulf it
 1. Antibodies on the
surface of b-cells.
When these meet a
complementary
antigen, it will bind to
it and be activated.
When this happens, it
is called an Antigen-
antibody complex.

2. B-cells
divide to
form
plasma
cells
(clones)

3. The plasma cells secrete loads

of the antibody specific to the
antigen.

4 Binding to and
neutralising toxins
produced by the pathogen.
The immune response is split
Into two…

Cellular: The T-cells

Humoral: B-cells
and other immune
and the production
system cells that
of antibodies for
they interact with
the Humoral
form the cellular
response.
response
 The Primary Response
When an antigen enters the
body for the first time it
activated the immune system,
which is called the primary
response.
Eventually the body will produce
The primary response is slow
enough of the antibodies to
because there aren’t many B-
overcome the infection. Until
cells to produce the specific
then, the infected person will
antibodies to bind to the
suffer some of the symptoms of
antigen.
the disease.

After being exposed to an

antigen, both T and B cells
produce memory cells, which
The person is now immune.
trigger a much faster response if
that antigen enters the body
again.
The Secondary Response
If the same pathogen enters the
body again, the immune system will
produce a quicker, stronger immune
response- the secondary response.

Memory B-cells divide into plasma

cells that produce the right antibody
to the antigen.

Memory T-cells divide into the

correct type of T cells to kill the cell
carrying the antigen.

The secondary response often gets

rid of the pathogen before you begin
to show any symptoms.
 Exam Questions
Describe the function of antibodies. (3)
Antibodies coat pathogens, making it easier for phagocytes to engulf them. (1)
And preventing them from entering host cells (2)
They also bind to toxins to neutralise them (3)

Describe and explain how a secondary immune response differs to a primary immune
response. (6)
A secondary immune response is faster (1)
And produces a quicker, stronger response (2)
Than the primary response. This is because memory cells are produced during the primary
response (3)
Which remember the foreign antigen (4)
During the second infection, B memory cells can quickly divide to form plasma cells, which
secrete the correct antibody to the antigen (5)
Memory T cells quickly divide into the right type of t cells to kill the cell carrying the antigen
(6)