B cells are the primary cells producing the humoral response, which initiates antibody mediation. Bone marrow stem cells produce pre-cursor T lymphocytes and pre-cursor B lymphocytes. B cells then develop in the bone marrow stem cells and are involved in producing virus-specific antibodies. The T cells are involved with cell-mediated immunity. Helper T lymphocytes help stimulate the release of B lymphocyte growth factors, which in turn enhance the production of plasma cells. B cells can also either block the surface of cells to prevent viral entry or initiate the killing of the virus, reducing viral dissemination.
Plasma cells can secrete antibodies that clump together with the viral antigens, forming an antibody-antigen complex. The antibodies can neutralize or block the virus from entering the host cell, attach to the infected cell, or signal other immune cells for help. These other immune cells respond in a variety of ways to destroy the virus or the infected host cells.
