Final answer:
For Joey, on a second attempt at infection by the same bacterium, the immune response would be faster (option a) due to previously developed memory cells that enable a quick and efficient adaptive immune response, preventing the disease effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering a second infection by the same bacterium in comparison to the first infection, the immune response would be faster as a result of the presence of memory cells in the body. These cells remember the pathogen from the first infection and can mount a rapid response within hours or a couple of days. This rapid recall ability is due to the fact that during the first infection, the immune system, including T and B cells, is trained to recognize and attack the specific antigen.
Once the immune system has encountered a pathogen for the first time, it takes time to develop a response, which might lead to susceptibility to the disease. However, on subsequent exposure to the same pathogen, the immune system has already been primed to recognize and fight it efficiently, resulting in the prevention of the disease much more quickly. This is known as the adaptive immune response, which includes the generation of memory cells that facilitate a faster and more effective reaction to the same pathogen upon re-exposure.