A memory cell is an antigen-specific B or T lymphocyte that does not differentiate into effector cells during the primary immune response, but that can immediately become effector cells upon re-exposure to the same pathogen. … In contrast, the memory cells persist in the circulation.

What is the difference between effector cells and memory cells?

The effector cells are short-lived cells, while the subset of memory cells is formed with a potential of long-term survival-called memory cells (Figure 3).

What do effector and memory cells do?

Following antigenic stimulation, naïve CD8+ T cells can differentiate into ‘effector’ cells that produce inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic molecules and into ‘memory’ cells, which are capable of an enhanced response to subsequent encounters with their cognate antigen.