What are the first antibodies to be produced in a primary immune response?

1 Answer
Sep 18, 2017

Mainly Igm, with small amounts of IgG

Explanation:

The primary immune response is, as the name suggests, the immune systems first response to a foriegn antigen. When this happens, there is a lag phase where activated B cells start differentiating into plasma and antigen-specific T cells are selected to copy and respond. This lag phase can be as short as 2-3 days, and as long as weeks or months.

After the lag phase, the levels of antibodies rise, peaking at around 7-10 days. The level of antibodies depends on the anitgen, but is usually quite low. It takes a while to establish immunity, but when it happens the anitbody levels decline rapidly, leaving the affinity of antibody lower for its antigen. The primary response happens mainly in the spleen and lymph nodes, with both Thymus dependent and Thymus independent antigen giving primary immune response.

During this time memory cells are being made, so if the anitgen enters the body again it can be beaten back much more quickly.

http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0000947.html

http://www.microbiologynotes.com/differences-between-primary-and-secondary-immune-response/

I hope I helped!