What is a naive lymphocyte?
A) A lymphocyte that has an antigen receptor but has not yet encountered the antigen recognized by the receptor.
B) A lymphocyte that has encountered the antigen recognized by its receptor but has not yet made antibodies.
C) A lymphocyte that has encountered the antigen recognized by its receptor but has not yet made antibodies and cytokines.
D) A lymphocyte that has encountered the antigen recognized by its receptor but has not yet undergone apoptosis.
E) A lymphocyte that has not yet encountered the antigen recognized by its receptor but is making antibodies.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A naive lymphocyte is a lymphocyte that has an antigen receptor but has not encountered the antigen recognized by the receptor. Once a naive lymphocyte encounters the antigen, it becomes activated and undergoes clonal expansion to produce effector cells that can fight off the antigen. Therefore, option A is the best choice. The other answer choices describe lymphocytes at different stages of the immune response but do not specifically refer to naive lymphocytes.

What Is a Naive Lymphocyte