Article
Article
- Biology & Biomedicine
- Immunology
- Antibody
Antibody
Article By:
Cohen, J. John Department of Immunology, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, Colorado.
Last reviewed:March 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.040100
Show previous versions
- Antibody, published June 2014:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Historical perspective
- Structure
- Antibody classes
- IgD
- IgM
- IgG
- IgA
- IgE
- Antibody production
- Induction
- Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies
- Related Primary Literature
- Additional Reading
A protein, found principally in blood serum, originating normally or in response to an antigen and characterized by a specific counteracting reactivity with that antigen. Antibodies (Fig. 1) are members of the immunoglobulin class of proteins and are sometimes referred to as immunoglobulins or immune bodies. They are produced and secreted by the B cells (B lymphocytes, which are white blood cells produced by the bone marrow) of the immune system in response to antigens (foreign substances). Antibodies are found in the tissue fluids and mucous membranes and are essential for protection against and recovery from infection. See also: Antigen; Antigen-antibody reaction; Immunoglobulin; Immunology; Infection
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