Human Physiology
Adaptive immune response
The adaptive immune response is the antigen-specific arm of vertebrate immunity mediated by B and T lymphocytes. It is characterized by exquisite specificity, clonal expansion, immunological memory, and regulation that together provide durable protection following infection or vaccination.
B cell
B cells, or B lymphocytes, are a class of white blood cells central to humoral immunity, producing antibodies after antigen recognition and activation. In mammals they develop primarily in the bone marrow, whereas the term “B” historically derives from the avian bursa of Fabricius where they were first defined. Through processes such as V(D)J recombination, class-switch recombination, and somatic hypermutation, B cells generate diverse and high‑affinity antibody responses, form immune memory, and contribute to antigen presentation.