Page 103 - The Miracle in the Immune System

Step By Step To All-Out War 101

cells are formed. Then, the B cells, which are ready for
war, start to divide and are transformed into plasma
cells. Plasma cells also secrete antibodies, which will be
used as weapons during the fight with the enemy. As
stated in earlier chapters, B cells are capable of produc-
ing thousands of antibodies in a second. These weapons
are very handy. They are capable enough to bind to the
enemy first, and then to destroy the biological structure
of the enemy (antigen).
If the virus penetrates the cell, the antibodies cannot
capture the virus. At this point, the killer T cells come in-
to play again and, by identifying the viruses in the cell
with the help of MHC molecules, they kill the cell.
However, if the virus has been successfully camou-
flaged, escaping even the notice of killer T cells, then
"natural killer cells", briefly called NKs, swing into ac-
tion. These cells destroy the cells which host viruses in
them, and which are imperceptible to other cells.
After the victory is won, suppressor T cells stop the
war. Although the war is over, it is never to be forgot-
ten. Memory cells have stored the enemy in their mem-
ory. Staying in the body for years, these cells help the
defence to be faster and more effective if the same ene-
my is encountered again.
The heroes of this war have not received any mili-
tary training.
The heroes of this war are not human beings able to
reason.
The heroes of this war are cells so minuscule as to
hardly cover a full stop when they come together in mil-
lions.