Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. Naive B cells are lymphocytes that have not yet encountered an antigen.

2. When a naive B cell encounters its specific antigen, it becomes activated. This activation involves the help of T cells, which also interact with the antigen.

3. The activated B cell undergoes clonal expansion, meaning it divides rapidly to produce many copies of itself.

4. Some of these copies differentiate into plasma cells.

5. Plasma cells are specialized antibody-producing factories. They produce large amounts of antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) specific to the antigen that triggered their formation.

So, the journey from a naive B cell to a plasma cell is a crucial part of the adaptive immune response, enabling the body to specifically target and neutralize pathogens.