What are the properties of memory B cells and memory T cells?

Memory B cells and memory T cells are two types of specialized immune cells that play a crucial role in the adaptive immune response. Both may be produced either after their naïve counterparts have successfully fought off an infection or after exposure to vaccines. 

They have several unique features including: 

Immunological memory: Both, memory B cells and memory T cells have the ability to remember previous encounters with foreign pathogens, enabling them to mount a defense against future infections by the same microbes faster and more effectively.

Longevity: Both types of memory cells have longer lifespans than their naïve counterparts. They can persist in the body for extended periods of time, in many cases a person’s entire lifetime, providing durable immunity against a recurring pathogen. 

Specificity and sensitivity: Both memory B cells and memory T cells are specific to a particular antigen that they remember from previous encounters. They also have a higher sensitivity to lower doses of that particular antigen. 

Quicker activation and more robust response: On re-exposure to the same antigen, both types of memory cells can proliferate and differentiate more rapidly, contributing to a faster and more robust immune response as compared to the primary immune response.