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Antibodies are cells that are made in the body. They are involved in immunity. Any foreign invader (antigen) that enters the body will be engulfed by its corresponding antibody, if that antibody is present in the body.

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13y ago
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Antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins,abbreviated Ig) are gamma globulin proteins that are found in blood or other bodily fluids of vertebrates, and are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses. They are typically made of basic structural units-each with two large heavy chains and two small light chains-to form, for example, monomers with one unit, dimers with two units or pentamers with five units. Antibodies are produced by a kind of white blood cell called a plasma cell. There are several different types of antibody heavy chains, and several different kinds of antibodies, which are grouped into different isotypes based on which heavy chain they possess. Five different antibody isotypes are known in mammals, which perform different roles, and help direct the appropriate immune response for each different type of foreign object they encounter.

Though the general structure of all antibodies is very similar, a small region at the tip of the protein is extremely variable, allowing millions of antibodies with slightly different tip structures, or antigen binding sites, to exist. This region is known as the hypervariable region. Each of these variants can bind to a different target, known as an antigen. This huge diversity of antibodies allows the immune system to recognize an equally wide diversity of antigens. The unique part of the antigen recognized by an antibody is called an epitope. These epitopes bind with their antibody in a highly specific interaction, called induced fit, that allows antibodies to identify and bind only their unique antigen in the midst of the millions of different molecules that make up an organism. Recognition of an antigen by an antibody tags it for attack by other parts of the immune system. Antibodies can also neutralize targets directly by, for example, binding to a part of a pathogen that it needs to cause an infection.

The large and diverse population of antibodies is generated by random combinations of a set of gene segments that encode different antigen binding sites (or paratopes), followed by random mutations in this area of the antibody gene, which create further diversity. Antibody genes also re-organize in a process called class switching that changes the base of the heavy chain to another, creating a different isotype of the antibody that retains the antigen specific variable region. This allows a single antibody to be used by several different parts of the immune system. Production of antibodies is the main function of the humoral immune system.

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13y ago

Antibodies, are gamma globulin proteins that are found in blood or other bodily fluids of vertebrates, and are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteriaand virusis.

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Q: What are blood antibodies?
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Related questions

A person with type A blood has antibodies to?

Type A blood will produce antibodies against B antigens.


What is Blood Type B negative for antibodies?

What is Blood Type B+ Negative for antibodies


What blood proteins fight disease?

Antibodies are proteins in the blood that fight disease.


You had blood test it showed you have antibodies in your blood?

blood test for antibodies ANA TEST Antibodies are often a sign of an infection best thing to do is talk to your doctor


What kind of antibodies does type AB have?

Since that person has anti-B antibodies, then A antigens are present in her red blood cells. Since that person doesnt have anti-A antibodies, then there are no B antigens present, which means the person has A type blood.


Antibodies found in blood type A positive?

primarily B antibodies and Rh antibodies


What Substance in the blood that destroys certain kinds of diseases?

Antibodies and white blood cells Antibodies and white blood cells


Where would antibodies be found in the blood?

Antigens are displayed on the surface of a macrophage after the digestion of a bacterium.


What blood cell are antibodies produced by?

Antibodies are produced by a kind of white blood cell called a plasma cell.


Which antibody and antigen combination match each blood type?

The blood type notation A Rh- indicates which antigens and antibodies are present in the blood. A indicates there are A antigens. Rh+ indicates there are Rh antigens. B antibodies. If there are A and Rh antigens but no B antigens, the antibodies in the blood plasma are B antibodies.


does a person with type a blood have antibodies?

A - blood type


What antibodies do a person with A- have?

A person with A negative blood will form antibodies to Rh + and to B