[Campbell Biology P.1025] Vaccination primarily functions by increasing the number of: | Practice Question

Vaccination primarily functions by increasing the number of:

  • option_A: different receptors that recognize a pathogen.
  • option_B: lymphocytes with receptors that can bind to the pathogen.
  • option_C: epitopes that the immune system can recognize.
  • option_D: MHC molecules that can present an antigen.

Explanation

Vaccination introduces antigens to the immune system, leading to the clonal expansion of specific lymphocytes B cells and T cells that bear receptors for those antigens. This creates a larger population of memory cells ready to respond rapidly upon subsequent exposure to the actual pathogen.