UNIT IV: Antigens and Antibodies
II MSC LIFE SCIENCE
CHRIST
, Antigens and Antibodies
• Antigen, substance that is capable of
stimulating an immune response, specifically
activating lymphocytes, which are the body’s
infection-fighting white blood cells.
• In general, two main divisions of antigens are
recognized: foreign antigens (or
heteroantigens) and autoantigens (or self-
antigens).
,• Antibody, also called immunoglobulin, a
protective protein produced by the immune
system in response to the presence of a foreign
substance, called an antigen.
• Antibodies recognize and latch onto antigens in
order to remove them from the body. A wide
range of substances are regarded by the body as
antigens, including disease-causing organisms
and toxic materials such as insect venom.
, Structure of Antibody
antibody structureThe four-chain structure of an antibody, or immunoglobulin,
molecule. The basic unit is composed of two identical light (L) chains and two
identical heavy (H) chains, which are held together by disulfide bonds to form a
flexible Y shape. Each chain is composed of a variable (V) region and a constant (C)
region.
II MSC LIFE SCIENCE
CHRIST
, Antigens and Antibodies
• Antigen, substance that is capable of
stimulating an immune response, specifically
activating lymphocytes, which are the body’s
infection-fighting white blood cells.
• In general, two main divisions of antigens are
recognized: foreign antigens (or
heteroantigens) and autoantigens (or self-
antigens).
,• Antibody, also called immunoglobulin, a
protective protein produced by the immune
system in response to the presence of a foreign
substance, called an antigen.
• Antibodies recognize and latch onto antigens in
order to remove them from the body. A wide
range of substances are regarded by the body as
antigens, including disease-causing organisms
and toxic materials such as insect venom.
, Structure of Antibody
antibody structureThe four-chain structure of an antibody, or immunoglobulin,
molecule. The basic unit is composed of two identical light (L) chains and two
identical heavy (H) chains, which are held together by disulfide bonds to form a
flexible Y shape. Each chain is composed of a variable (V) region and a constant (C)
region.
