Antibodies

Antibodies:

• Proteins with specific binding sites synthesised by B cells
• A specific antibody reacts with an antigen on the surface of the non-self material by binding to them
• Each antibody has two identical binding sites
• The antibody binding sites are complementary to a specific antigen

How the antibody leads to the destruction of an antigen:

• Do not destroy directly but prepare the antigen for destruction

For example, when the antigen is a bacterial cell, antibodies assist its destruction in two ways -

• They cause agglutination of the bacterial cells - in this way clumps of bacterial cells are formed, making it easier for the phagocytes to locate them as they are less spread-out within the body
• They then serve as markers that stimulate phagocytes to engulf the bacterial cells to which they are attached

Monoclonal antibodies:

• Identical copies of antibodies
• Produce a single clone of cells

Targetting medication to specific cell types by attaching a therpeutic drug to an…