Some biologists have criticized the traditional analogy of the immune system to an army, arguing that it is unnecessarily militaristic. They have proposed other analogies that compare immune functioning to gardening or housekeeping

Question

Develop one of these or create your own analogy for immune function and describe the roles of helper T-lymphocytes, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and B-lymphocytes using language that fits your metaphor.    
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Many answers are possible. Helper T-lymphocytes could be considered as craftsmen who start and oversee a job (e.g., a sculpture). They help activate cytotoxic T-lymphocytes with IL-2. Cytotoxic T-cells are as apprentices who do important aspects of the work of the project (e.g., chisel off infected cells). The B-lymphocytes could be considered as a large assortment of tools for different jobs (e.g., chisels, hammers). When helper cells help activate them with IL-4 (e.g., sharpen them), they start to become ready for use. An individual antibody is the right tool (e.g., right size & sharpness chisel) for a specific job.