Which of the following is a characteristic of memory B cells?

Memory B cells are a specialized type of B cell that play a crucial role in the adaptive immune response. One of their key characteristics is the ability to mount a rapid and effective response to subsequent infections by recognizing pathogens that the body has encountered before. When a person is exposed to a specific antigen for the first time, naive B cells are activated, proliferate, and differentiate into plasma cells and memory B cells. The memory B cells persist in the body long after the initial infection has cleared and are primed to respond quicker during subsequent exposures to the same antigen.

When re-exposed to the same pathogen, these memory B cells can quickly proliferate and produce high-affinity antibodies. This quick action is essential for effective immunity, serving as the foundation for how vaccinations work; they help the immune system “remember” previous infections, allowing for faster and more potent responses to future infections.

The other characteristics mentioned in the options do not align with the known features of memory B cells. For example, they are not characterized by a short lifespan; instead, they can live for years, contributing to long-term immunity. While memory B cells can lead to a more rapid and potent antibody production upon re-exposure, they do not produce antibodies immediately. This immediate response