Ace the Oncology Nursing Game: 2025 Chemo-Bio Certification Practice Test Adventure!

The adaptive immune response is primarily mediated by B cells and T cells. These lymphocytes are specialized types of white blood cells that play crucial roles in recognizing and responding to specific pathogens or foreign substances.

B cells are responsible for producing antibodies, which bind to antigens on the surface of pathogens, marking them for destruction and neutralizing their harmful effects. They also have a memory function, allowing for a faster and more robust response upon re-exposure to the same pathogen.

T cells, on the other hand, can be further divided into several types, with helper T cells assisting in activating and regulating immune responses and cytotoxic T cells directly killing infected or cancerous cells.

The precision and memory of the adaptive immune response enable the body to mount a stronger defense against infections than the innate immune response, which provides a more generalized attack against pathogens. Natural killer cells, monocytes, and basophils contribute to the immune response but are primarily associated with the innate immune system, which acts as the first line of defense against infections and is not specific to particular pathogens.