To make good germ-fighting antibodies, B cells need to study what a germ looks like. Follicular dendritic cells hold up the clues.
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Follicular dendritic cells live in round patches called follicles. You find follicles in your lymph nodes, spleen, and tonsils.
They have lots of thin, branching arms, a bit like a tree or a bush. The arms are covered in little bits of germs that the cell is holding on to.
Even though they share a name, these cells are not close relatives of the other dendritic cells in your body. They just look similar.
B cells make antibodies, little Y-shaped proteins that stick to germs. To make good ones, B cells need to see the real germ shapes.
This is part of why vaccines and getting over an illness can help protect you for a long time.
Press Show germ clues on the 3D model to light up the bits the cell is holding.