What happens during clonal expansion in the humoral immune response?

During clonal expansion in the humoral immune response, B cells replicate and increase in number. This process begins when B cells recognize a specific antigen and bind to it. Upon activation, often with the help of T-helper cells, the B cells undergo rapid cell division. Each resulting daughter cell is a clone of the original B cell and carries the same specificity for the antigen.

This proliferation leads to a significant increase in the population of B cells that can produce antibodies specifically tailored to neutralizing the pathogen. As a result, the immune system effectively mounts a stronger and more efficient response against the invader. This amplified response is crucial for the body to quickly respond to infections and to provide long-lasting immunity through the formation of memory B cells, which remain after the infection has been cleared.