Multiple Choice
How does an antibody's ability to bind an antigen increase as B cells multiply?
20. Adaptive Immunity
Affinity Maturation
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Which of the following statements about antibody affinity maturation is true?
A
It is a form of natural selection ensuring only antibodies that most effectively bind the antigen are produced.
B
It occurs when mutations happen in the DNA encoding the variable region of the antibody.
C
It ensures that only B cells with BCRs that effectively bind the antigen are allowed to proliferate.
D
After an affinity maturation cycle, the majority of the B cell population will create antibodies that bind the antigen.
E
A and B.
F
B and C.
G
All of the above are true about affinity maturation.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of antibody affinity maturation: It is a process that occurs in the immune system to increase the binding strength of antibodies to their specific antigens.
Recognize that affinity maturation involves somatic hypermutation, which introduces mutations in the DNA encoding the variable region of the antibody, allowing for the selection of B cells with higher affinity B cell receptors (BCRs).
Identify that this process is a form of natural selection, where B cells with higher affinity BCRs are preferentially selected to proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells that produce antibodies.
Acknowledge that after an affinity maturation cycle, the B cell population is enriched for cells that produce antibodies with improved binding to the antigen.
Evaluate each statement in the problem: All statements describe different aspects of affinity maturation, indicating that all are true.
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Affinity Maturation practice set
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