A nurse is caring for a client who had an anaphylactic reaction after a blood transfusion. The nurse reviews the literature to further understand antibody-mediated immunity (AMI). Which of the following information should the nurse confirm about AMI?

Choice A rationale B-lymphocytes are the primary cells responsible for antibody-mediated immunity, also known as humoral immunity. When these cells encounter a specific antigen, they differentiate into plasma cells that secrete large quantities of antibodies. These antibodies circulate in the blood and lymph, where they bind to specific foreign proteins to neutralize or mark them for destruction. This process is essential for defending the body against extracellular pathogens like bacteria and viruses that reside in body fluids. Choice B rationale Natural killer cells are part of the innate immune system and provide a non-specific defense against virally infected cells and tumors. They do not produce antibodies and are not the primary mediators of antibody-mediated immunity. Unlike B-cells, natural killer cells do not require prior sensitization to an antigen to function. Phagocytosis is primarily performed by neutrophils and macrophages, while natural killer cells typically induce apoptosis in target cells through the release of cytotoxic granules. Choice C rationale The humoral immune response is specifically driven by B-lymphocytes and the antibodies they produce, rather than T-lymphocytes. T-lymphocytes are responsible for cell-mediated immunity, which involves direct cellular attack or the release of cytokines to coordinate the immune response. While helper T-cells are necessary to activate B-cells in many cases, the actual production of antibodies that defines the humoral response is a function unique to the B-cell lineage and its differentiated plasma cell forms. Choice D rationale Antibody-mediated immunity provides a broad spectrum of defense against various pathogens, not just viruses. It is highly effective against extracellular bacteria, neutralized bacterial toxins, and prevents the attachment of viruses to host cells. By binding to antigens on the surface of these different pathogens, antibodies facilitate their removal via opsonization or activation of the complement system. Restricting its function to only viral infections ignores its critical role in managing bacterial infections and toxic exposures.