Antibodies that are blood proteins help defend our bodies against external invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances. Keep reading to learn about how they work!
What do they do?
Antibodies possess a distinct Y shape. The two arms reaching from the top of the Y shape are what bind to the antigen, a molecule or fragment of the invader. The bottom of the Y binds to other immune-system compounds, which assist in the process of disabling the invader.
The standard Y-shape is present in all antibodies, but there are five variations: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE. Each form obtains a slightly different appearance, and performs a different role in the immune system. For example, one antibody may tag or identify invaders so immune system cells that are not antibodies can remove them. Another example includes how another antibody may encase the invader in a goo-like coating.
Example:
How are they formed?
After your body has been exposed to an invader, whether it's a virus or a certain type of bacteria, B lymphocytes develop antibodies to search for these invaders, bind to them, and disable them. B lymphocytes or B cells are a type of white blood cell that can be found in the bone marrow. There are approximately one trillion B cells in our body, and each carries a different variation of a Ig antibody. It is this level of variation that allows our body to identify almost all foreign substances.
How are they related to vaccines?
Vaccines help you develop immunity without actually making you sick. They consist of the same germs or bacteria that cause disease, but because these germs are already disabled or weakened, they won't make you sick. After these germs are introduced into your body, usually through injection, antibodies are produced to fend off these invaders. Antibodies then destroy the vaccine germs which is similar to how they would destroy real viruses or bacteria. Vaccines are used to train antibodies, ensuring that they are present to protect you when needed.
I hope you learned how antibodies play a primary role in our immune system.Thank you for reading!
Written by: Ashlee Liu
References:
Ghose, Tia. “What Are Antibodies?” Live Science, 17 July 2020, www.livescience.com/antibodies.html.
“Vaccine Basics - How Vaccines Work.” Vaccine Information, 2019, vaccineinformation.org/how-vaccineswork/#:%7E:text=Your%20immune%20system%20reacts%20to,your%20body%2C%20giving%20you%20immunity.
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