[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fxLN3MUwXCdr5RPjwZYIDpOj8CHyjOmngWTgoKXPtZbg":3,"$fGVpFNUFadZGxhavK-5hm4a5fAxGRdCAK-zIaz238aXE":32,"$f3Ft0rKFJHppdzE-vuveecxx1BUcg9iOlMLtyzf_MJDg":47},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28],{"title":5,"slug":6,"path":7},"About Microbeonline.com","about-microbeonline-com","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002F",{"title":9,"slug":10,"path":11},"About Me","about-me","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002Fabout-me\u002F",{"title":13,"slug":14,"path":15},"Advertise with Us","advertise-us","\u002Fadvertise-us\u002F",{"title":17,"slug":18,"path":19},"Privacy Policy","privacy-policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{"title":21,"slug":22,"path":23},"Abbreviations","abbreviations","\u002Fabbreviations\u002F",{"title":25,"slug":26,"path":27},"Microbes","microbes","\u002Fmicrobes\u002F",{"title":29,"slug":30,"path":31},"Books","recommended-books","\u002Frecommended-books\u002F",{"type":33,"data":34},"blog",{"slug":35,"title":36,"description":36,"seoTitle":37,"seoDescription":37,"author":38,"createdDate":39,"lastUpdatedDate":40,"draft":41,"category":42,"image":37,"body":43,"faq":44,"tags":45,"related":46},"difference-between-b-cells-t-cells","Difference between B Cells and T Cells",null,"Acharya Tankeshwar","2019-04-08","2025-12-29",false,"difference-between","T cells and B cells are white blood cells that are important cells for adaptive immunity. Like all blood cells, they are **made in the bone marrow**. While B-cells mature in the bone marrow, T-cells travel through the bloodstream to the thymus (a small organ between the lungs and behind the sternum) and mature there. **Broadly** speaking T cells can be divided into two different types, ‘killer T-cells’ and ‘helper T-cells’.\n\n> Regulatory T cells (also called Tregs) are another types of T cells. Tregs have a role in regulating or suppressing other cells in the immune system. 2018 Nobel prize in Physiology and Medicine is related to negative immune regulation. Find more innobelprize.org\n\n![](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FB-cell-and-T-cell-function.jpg)Killer T cells also known as cytotoxic T cells (CTL) hunt down and destroy cells that are infected with germs or that have become cancerous while helper T cells help B cells to make antibodies. T helper (TH) cells express CD4 molecules and are restricted to recognizing antigens bound to class II MHC molecules, whereas T cytotoxic (TC) cells express CD8 and are restricted to recognizing antigens bound to class I MHC molecules. Cytotoxic T cells kill cells that are infected with viruses or altered self-cell with toxic mediators (perforin and granzymes).\n\nB cells are major cells of humoral (antibody-mediated) immunity, effector B cells (plasma cells) produce antibodies that circulate, capture and destroy antigens.\n\n![ - Helper T cells and B Cell Interactions (Source: Kubay Immunology)](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FTH-Cell-help-to-B-Cell.png)Figure: Helper T cells and B Cell Interactions (Source: Kubay Immunology)\n\n![](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FAPC-and-T-cell-interaction.png)Circulating helper T cells recognize exogenous antigens and produce cytokines. Two major groups of helper T cells are known as Th1 and Th2 cells. Th1 cells predominantly produce interferon-g (IFN-g), which promotes cell-mediated immune mechanisms. Th2 cells produce mostly interleukin-4 (IL-4), which promotes humoral immunity by activating B cells.\n\nWhen a naïve (virgin) B cell first encounters the antigen that matches its membrane-bound antibody, the binding of the antigen to the antibody causes the cell to divide rapidly (clonal expansion); its progeny differentiates into memory B cells and effector B cells called plasma cells. Plasma cells secrete antibodies which act as major effector molecules of humoral immunity.\n\nSome of the major differences between B Cells and T Cells are tabulated below:\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"min-width: 75px;\">\n\u003Ccolgroup>\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003C\u002Fcolgroup>\u003Ctbody>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Features\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>B Cells\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>T Cells\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Maturation\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Bone Marrow  (Bursal equivalent)\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Thymus\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Involvement of MHC molecules\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>None required\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Required to display processed antigen\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Recognition of Antigen\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>B Cells can recognize and bind to soluble antigens.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>T-cell receptor (TCR) does not recognize the free antigens. T cells can recognize an antigen only when it is associated with self MHC molecule on the surface of a self-cell (either an antigen-presenting cell or altered self cell or on a virus-infected cell and graft).  \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Chemical nature of antigen\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>B cells recognize an enormous variety of antigens such as proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>T cells recognize protein epitopes displayed together with MHC molecules on self-cells, but some lipids and glycolipids are presented on MHC-like molecules.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Interaction with antigen\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Involves binary complex of membrane Immunoglobulin and Antigen\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Involves ternary complex of the T-cell receptor, antigen, and MHC molecule\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20260123090132\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fmicrobeonline.com\u002Fepitope\u002F\">Epitope \u003C\u002Fa>properties\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Accessible, hydrophilic, mobile peptides containing sequential or nonsequential amino acids\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>Internal linear peptides produced by processing of antigen and bound to MHC molecules\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Antigen Specificity\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20260123090132\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fmicrobeonline.com\u002Fantigen-structure-types-factors-affecting-immunogenicity\u002F\">Antigen\u003C\u002Fa> specificity of each B cell is determined by the membrane-bound antigen-binding receptor (antibody) expressed by the cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Antigenic specificity of T Cells is determined by antigen-binding T-cell receptor (TCR) on T Cells. TCR genes are capable of generating on the order of 10^9 unique antigenic specificities.  \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Peripheral Blood\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>10-15% of total lymphocytes\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>70-80% of total lymphocytes\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Antigen recognition receptors\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Membrane-bound immunoglobulin (\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20260123090132\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fmicrobeonline.com\u002Figm-antibody-structure-properties-functions-clinical-significance\u002F\">IgM\u003C\u002Fa> or IgD complexed with Igα \u002FIgβ) molecules serve as receptors for antigens.\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>T cell receptors (TCR) complexed with CD3 (signal-transduction element of the T-cell receptor)  \u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>CD markers\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>CD32\u002FFcγRII\u003C\u002Fstrong> (Receptor for Fc region of \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20260123090132\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fmicrobeonline.com\u002Figg-antibody-structure-subclasses-functions-and-clinical-significance\u002F\">IgG\u003C\u002Fa>), \u003Cstrong>CD35 \u003C\u002Fstrong>or CR1 Receptor for complement (C3b), and \u003Cstrong>CD40\u003C\u002Fstrong> (Signal transduction)\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>CD3\u003C\u002Fstrong>, \u003Cstrong>CD4\u003C\u002Fstrong> (adhesion molecule that binds to \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fweb.archive.org\u002Fweb\u002F20260123090132\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fmicrobeonline.com\u002Fdifference-mhc-class-mhc-class-ii-proteins\u002F\">class II MHC molecules\u003C\u002Fa>; signal transduction),\u003Cbr>\u003Cstrong>CD8\u003C\u002Fstrong> (adhesion molecule that binds to class I MHC molecules; signal transduction), \u003Cstrong>CD28\u003C\u002Fstrong> (receptor for co-stimulatory B7 molecule on antigen-presenting cells), \u003Cstrong>CD45 \u003C\u002Fstrong>(a signal-transduction molecule)\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n**References and further reading:**\n\n- [Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 9th Edition](https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F2Ofk9Rv)\n- [Kuby Immunology, 8th Edition](https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F2TXGUOX)\n- [Roitt’s Essential Immunology, 13th Edition](https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F2OdRNal)",[],[],[],[48,54,61,66,70,74,79,84,88,92],{"slug":49,"name":38,"description":50,"image":51,"body":52,"postCount":53},"acharya-tankeshwar","Editor-in-chief","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Ftankeshwar-acharya-author-microbeonline.jpg","***Tankeshwar Acharya, MSc (Medical Microbiology)***\n\n*Tankeshwar Acharya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal, where he has been teaching and practicing clinical microbiology for over 14 years. He is the founder of Microbe Online, one of the leading free microbiology education resources on the web, covering bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and clinical laboratory diagnostics written from direct experience in both the classroom and the diagnostic laboratory.*",433,{"slug":55,"name":56,"description":57,"image":58,"body":59,"postCount":60},"ashma-shrestha","Ashma Shrestha","SEO Copywriter and Science Communicator\nKathmandu, Nepal","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Fashma-shrestha.png","Ashma Shrestha holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology from the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, where she developed a strong foundation in virology, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology.\n\nShe now works as an SEO Copywriter at Resolution Digital, where she combines her scientific training with research-driven content strategy. She is certified in Google Analytics and Google Business Profile (GBP), and brings a data-informed approach to science communication writing content that is not only accurate but structured to reach and serve the students who need it most.\n\nAt microbeonline, Ashma contributes articles primarily in virology and molecular biology, areas she finds most compelling for their mechanistic depth and their growing clinical relevance. Her writing reflects the same standard the site is built on: factual rigor, clear explanation of the *why* behind microbiology concepts, and content that helps students move from memorization to genuine understanding.\n\nShe is passionate about making complex microbiological concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy; a skill that sits at the intersection of her scientific training and her professional work in content and SEO.",81,{"slug":62,"name":63,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":65},"sushmita-baniya","Sushmita Baniya","Author \u002F Contributor",32,{"slug":67,"name":68,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":69},"samikshya-acharya","Samikshya Acharya",20,{"slug":71,"name":72,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":73},"alisha-tripathi","Alisha Tripathi",6,{"slug":75,"name":76,"description":77,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":78},"aastha-shrestha","Aastha Shrestha"," Author \u002F Contributor",10,{"slug":80,"name":81,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":83},"guest-author","Guest Author","Guest Author \u002F Contributor",2,{"slug":85,"name":86,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":87},"srijana-khanal","Srijana Khanal",18,{"slug":89,"name":90,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":91},"dr-poonam-acharya","Dr. Poonam Acharya",1,{"slug":93,"name":94,"description":64,"image":37,"body":95,"postCount":96},"nisha-rijal","Nisha Rijal","**Nisha Rijal** is a microbiologist and quality assurance specialist. She served for nearly 12 years as a microbiologist at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Nepal's national reference laboratory, and continues to work as a consultant microbiologist in international public health organization. ",51]