memory cell
any small, long-lived lymphocyte that has previously encountered a given antigen and that on reexposure to the same antigen rapidly initiates the immune response (memory T cell ) or proliferates and produces large amounts of specific antibody (memory B cell ): the agent of lasting immunity.
Words Nearby memory cell
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use memory cell in a sentence
That’s because vaccines create immunity not only via antibodies but also through long-lived memory cells, including T cells.
Pfizer’s vaccine takes a “very large” hit from omicron—but boosters help | Antonio Regalado | December 8, 2021 | MIT Technology ReviewThe T-cell response, on the other hand, involves memory cells that can remember previous infections, then recognize the threat if it appears again, thus enabling the body to mount reactions more quickly in an ongoing fashion.
The FDA's Vaccine Expert Panel Recommends Approval of a J&J Booster for Anyone Who Had an Initial Shot | Alice Park | October 15, 2021 | TimeWhat’s important is that once a person’s immune system knows how to make antibodies for a specific protein, it’ll retain that knowledge in the form of memory cells.
After a second contact with the enemy, more memory cells are made, which means the next time the pathogen is seen, that swift response will be bigger.
For many standard vaccinations, people receive a couple of shots meant to prime the immune system, followed by a later shot aimed at boosting the immune system’s memory cells and providing long-term protection.
The Health 202: Obese Americans could be prioritized for coronavirus vaccine | Paige Winfield Cunningham | November 30, 2020 | Washington Post
"Well, that hour's memory-cell is filled all right," Lloyd thought.
The Little Colonel in Arizona | Annie Fellows Johnston
Cultural definitions for memory cell
A cell in the immune system that, when exposed to an invading pathogen, replicates itself and remains in the lymph nodes searching for the same antigen, resulting in a more efficient and rapid response to any subsequent attack.
Notes for memory cell
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse