T-Cell MEMORY is the more important component. Like with most infections if your T Cells have already been presented with a naughty antigen they go into beast mode directing the generation of lots of antibodies that can overwhelm and eradicate the associated intruder.
The purpose of vaccines is to present the antigen to the T cells without exposing the body to actual viable microbe.
Memories. Good to have those.
Just trying to understand, and please jump in guys:
I agree about the priming of the T-cell system. E.g. if you have had a coronavirus before, your immune system is ready/readier to respond.
If I have understood correctly, this memory or alarm function is handled by the T-helper cells.
The T-helper cells stimulate the response. This response might be one of three things:
* To stimulate B (’Bursa’) cells to release antibodies. These antibodies are proteins that attach to pathogens, clag them up, maybe also flag them for destruction(?)
B-cells are found in the bone marrow in adults, or in pre-natal liver cells. They get their name from the ‘Bursa of Fabricius’; an antibody-producing organ found only in certain kinds of birds.
* To stimulate/direct the activity of Macrophages - cells of many types that operate in different parts of the body, that variously clean up dead cells: dead neurons, other cellular detritus.
Macrophages also stimulate/direct the T-helper system, e.g. by breaking up ‘bad’ cells and presenting the contents to the T-helper cells.
* To stimulate/direct the activity of cytotoxic T cells; These are white cells with very specific targets. I guess they act as targetted assassins rather than as general purpose hoovers.