by admin on Saturday, March 13, 2010 13:15 under Interesting Facts.
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- Antibodies are tiny proteins that make germs vulnerable to attack by white blood cells called phagocytes.
- Antibodies are produced by white blood cells derived from B lymphocyctes (see lymphocytes).
- There are thousands of different kinds of B-cell in the blood, each of which produces antibodies against a particular germ.
- Normally, only a few B-cells carry a particular antibody. But when invading germ is detected, the correct B-cell multiplies rapidly to cause the release of antibodies.
- Invaders are identified when your body’s immune system recognizes proteins on their surface as foreign. Any foreign protein is called an antigen.
- Pollen from plants can often cause allergies such as hayfever. Your body’s immune system mistakenly produces antibodies to fight the harmless pollen grains, which causes an allergic reaction.
- Bacteria, viruses and many other microorganisms have antigens which spur B-cells into action to produce antibodies, as this artist’s impression shows.
- Your body was armed from birth with antibodies for germs it had never met. This is called innate immunity.
- If your body comes across a germ it has no antibodies for, it quickly makes some. It then leaves memory cells ready to be activated if the germ invades again. This is called acquired immunity.
- Acquired immunity means you only suffer once from chickenpox. This is also how vaccination works.
- Allergies are sensitive reactions that happen in your body when too many antibodies are produced, or when they are produced to attack harmless antigens.
- Autoimmune diseases are ones in which the body forms antibodies against its own tissue cells.
