Question

Affinity maturation results in ______________________________.

a) conversion of naive B cells to differentiated plasma cells
b) increased rates of transcription of immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes
c) production of antibodies that bind more strongly to their target antigen
d) generation of additional CDR loops in the antigen binding sites of antibodies

Answer 1

Affinity maturation leads to the production of high-affinity antibodies, with mutations in the immunoglobulin genes resulting in B cells that can bind more strongly to antigens.

Step-by-step explanation:

Affinity maturation leads to production of antibodies that bind more strongly to their target antigen. This process involves mutations within the immunoglobulin gene variable regions, which generates B cells with slightly altered antigen-binding sites. When these B cells are re-exposed to the antigen, those with higher-affinity antigen-binding sites will proliferate more, resulting in an increased production of high-affinity antibodies. This is essential for the secondary immune response, where memory cells that were generated during the primary immune response quickly and effectively produce large amounts of high-affinity IgG antibodies upon re-exposure to the antigen.