Final answer:
The antigen's form dictates the type of immune response by the adaptive immune system. Specific receptors on B and T lymphocytes recognize antigens unique to pathogens, allowing for tailored immune responses and immunological memory formation. Factors such as molecular class, complexity, and size influence an antigen’s ability to stimulate an immune response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the form of antigen (pathogen) does dictate the type of immune response. Antigens are unique to specific pathogens and are identified by the adaptive immune system. This identification allows B and T lymphocytes to produce tailored responses for effectively combating a particular pathogen. Factors such as molecular class, molecular complexity, and size affect an antigen's potential to stimulate an immune response.
The adaptive immune system's specificity is due to its ability to develop a vast array of receptors, approximately 100 trillion, to recognize different pathogens. Upon a primary adaptive response, the immune system may experience more severe symptoms since this is the first time encountering the pathogen, and it takes time for the immune response to become effective. Eventually, the system clears the pathogen and develops immunological memory, which allows for a more rapid response upon subsequent exposures to the same pathogen—this process of recalling the immune response is key to adaptive immunity.
Seroconversion, the decline of virus levels with a rise in antibody levels during the course of an infection, shows that the adaptive immune response is partially effective. The multiple functions of mature, naive B and T cells, along with various other cells, proteins, and cytokines, work in unison to resolve the infection.