Primary immune responses initially generate IgM antibodies
with relatively low intrinsic affinity, while later times in responses reveal higher-affinity
IgG antibodies. Despite this difference, IgM antibodies can efficiently
neutralise pathogens early in infection.

Which explanation BEST accounts for the functional
effectiveness of IgM in this context?

Question

Primary immune responses initially generate IgM antibodies
with relatively low intrinsic affinity, while later times in responses reveal higher-affinity
IgG antibodies. Despite this difference, IgM antibodies can efficiently
neutralise pathogens early in infection.

Which explanation BEST accounts for the functional
effectiveness of IgM in this context?

Accepted Answer

The
multivalent pentameric structure of IgM provides high avidity through
cooperative binding

Answer

IgM
undergoes somatic hypermutation at rare, key residues prior to class switching

Answer

IgM
is preferentially selected for high-affinity variants during early germinal
centre responses

Answer

Comparable
intrinsic affinity exists between IgM and IgG despite structural differences

Crowdly

Primary immune responses initially generate IgM antibodies with relatively low ...

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