key term - Class switching

Definition

Class switching is a process in the immune system where an antibody-producing B cell changes the class of antibody it produces without altering its antigen specificity. This mechanism allows the immune system to adapt its response to different pathogens or stages of infection.

Related terms

Antibodies: Proteins produced by B cells that recognize and bind to specific antigens to neutralize or mark them for destruction by other immune cells.

B Cells:

A type of white blood cell that produces antibodies and plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune response.

Antigens:

Substances that can induce an immune response, typically recognized as foreign by the immune system