Antibodies are produced by which type of cells?

Antibodies are specifically produced by plasma cells, which are differentiated forms of B-cells. When B-cells encounter an antigen that matches their specific receptor, they can be activated and proliferate. Some of these activated B-cells will become memory B-cells, which can respond to future infections, but it is the plasma cells that actively secrete large quantities of antibodies into the bloodstream. These antibodies are essential for identifying and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

While B-cells are integral to the immune response and serve as the precursors to plasma cells, it is the plasma cells that are the actual producers of antibodies. Memory cells have a different role in the immune system, focusing on providing long-term immunity. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell involved in the innate immune response, rather than the adaptive immune response where antibody production occurs. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the specific role of plasma cells in the immune system.