Neutralising antibodies
- July 25, 2020
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Subject: Science and tech
Context:
A recent serological survey in Delhi found the presence of coronavirus-specific antibodies in about 23% of the samples tested.
Concept:
- The mere presence of antibodies does not mean that the person is protected against the disease.
- The important thing is the amount of antibodies present and whether it is neutralizing antibodies.
- A neutralizing antibody (NAb) is a type of antibody that is capable of keeping an infectious agent from infecting a cell by neutralizing or inhibiting its biological effect.
- It is produced naturally as part of immune system responses to inhibit the effects of receptors on the foreign invaders.
- Neutralizing antibodies are different with binding antibodies.
- A binding antibody can bind to a specific antigen and flagging it. The antibody-antigen complex can trigger white blood cells destroying the flagged antigen.
- While a neutralizing antibody can directly stop the function of the agents without the need for white blood cells by binding its target and negates its downstream cellular effects, such as cell proliferation or chemotaxis.