During the immune response, what do activated B-cells differentiate into?

When B-cells are activated during the immune response, they undergo a process of differentiation to form two key types of cells: memory B-cells and plasma cells.

Plasma cells are responsible for the production and secretion of antibodies, which are crucial for identifying and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. These antibodies circulate in the body and bind to specific antigens, marking them for destruction by other components of the immune system.

On the other hand, memory B-cells are long-lived and serve as a reserve of immune memory. They remain in the body after the initial infection has been cleared and can quickly respond to future infections by the same pathogen. This allows for a more rapid and effective immune response upon re-exposure.

The other options, which include different types of T-cells and macrophages, do not stem from B-cell activation and are part of different pathways within the immune response. Helper T-cells assist in activating other immune cells, while killer T-cells target and destroy infected or cancerous cells. Macrophages are larger immune cells that primarily engulf and digest pathogens and dead cells, but they do not arise from B-cell differentiation.