ANTIBODIES

ANTIBODIES

TOPIC: Science & Tech

Context- A small study found that compared with adults, a higher proportion of chil­dren did not produce antibo­dies in response to SARS­ CoV­2 infection (seroconversion).

Concept-

Antibody:

• Antibody, also called immunoglobulin, is a Y shaped protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen.
• A wide range of substances are regarded by the body as antigens, including disease-causing organisms and toxic materials.
• Antibodies recognize and attack onto antigens in order to remove them from the body.
• Each tip of the “Y” of an antibody contains a paratope (analogous to a lock) that is specific for one particular epitope (analogous to a key) on an antigen, allowing these two structures to bind together with precision.
• Using this binding mechanism, an antibody can tag a microbe or an infected cell and can neutralize it directly.
• The main types of antibodies (immunoglobulins) include:
  • IgG. These are the most abundant types of antibodies in your plasma. They detoxify harmful substances and provide long-term protection.
  • IgM. These are the first antibodies made by B cells in response to antigens.
  • IgA. These antibodies collect antigens and remove them from your body in your mucus or other body fluids.
  • IgE. These antibodies trigger allergies and protect against parasites. Small amounts are in your skin, lungs, and mucosal membranes.
  • IgD. These antibodies bind to B cells and signal them to release IgM antibodies.

Antigen vs Antibodies: