How the immune system gets better at detecting pathogens

B cells, a type of white blood cell, protect our bodies by producing antibodies that recognize and bind to invaders like bacteria and viruses. After an infection, B cells undergo rapid mutations in the genes that encode antibodies. These mutations—known as somatic hypermutations—allow B cells to produce antibodies tailor-made to recognize the foreign pathogens they just encountered, making them more efficient at defense.