Antibodies have the ability to fight infections that can leave us feeling run down, sick and achy. Whether created by the body's natural defense systems or acquired through vaccines, antibodies have the ability to protect against a range of illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses.
Definition
Antibodies are proteins created by the body's immune system (the organs and cells that help to fight infection) that attack foreign viruses and bacteria that can cause infection and illness.
Production
Antibodies are produced when the immune system's B cells (lymphocytes that recognize foreign bacteria or viruses and send out defense mechanisms to destroy them) detect these antigens (the foreign bodies) and send out antibodies to fight off infection.
Action
Antibodies fight these foreign bodies by attaching themselves directly to them. Antibodies do not single-handedly destroy the foreign bodies, but help to signal other cells, such as phagocytes, to attack the bacteria or viruses.
Types
There are five groups of antibodies, each with their own specific role or area of the body to protect. They are known as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgM and IgG.
Immunity
One of the benefits of antibodies is the body's ability to subsequently remember what the antigens looked like and keep the antibodies used to fight off that bacterium or virus in the body's memory. So if that particular virus or bacterium (such as chicken pox or measles) were to strike again, the antibodies would already be ready to fight off the infection. Because of the body's ability to remember the antibodies, chicken pox and other illnesses are much less likely to strike twice in a person's life.
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