What are Antibodies | Health | Biology | FuseSchool

What are Antibodies | Health | Biology | FuseSchool

If this is the first time you have heard about antibodies, you may not know how important they are. Antibodies are one of the warriors inside our body, helping us to fight off nasty, invading particles.

They are a type of protein, and are a key component of our immune system. If a person doesn’t produce, or over-produces, antibodies in their body, the person will become very ill.

So where do antibodies come from?
Antibodies circulate in the bloodstream and can appear anywhere throughout the body. Their function is to recognize bad agents, called antigens, and then trigger further chemical reactions in the body to remove the antigens.

Antigens are foreign substances that are capable of triggering an immune response. They can be viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, and foreign particles. They can even be allergens like dust, pollen or certain foods, that cause allergic reactions. Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen.

So what do antibodies look like?
Antibodies are also known as immunoglobulin. They are generally a Y-shaped protein consisting of four polypeptides: 2 identical light chains, and 2 identical heavy chains. the terms light and heavy simply mean larger and smaller. The 4 polypeptide chains are connected by disulphide bridges.

Here, at the tip of each arm are the antigen binding sites. These are the really important parts for attacking invading antigens.

Similar to the lock and key mechanism in enzymes, the shape of the antigen binding site is specific to the antigen it is targeting. If part of the antigen fits into the antigen binding site, the antibody “recognizes” the foreign antigen and binds it in. This stops the antigen from causing more damage elsewhere.

Two identical binding sites means any given antibody can bind simultaneously to two identical antigens.

Millions of antibodies with slightly different tip structures exist, with each variant binding to a different antigen. This enormous diversity of antibodies allows the immune system to recognize an equally diverse range of antigens.

By binding in an antigen, an antibody can stop the antigen from entering or damaging cells. This is known as neutralizing. The antibody can also tag the antigen for attack by other parts of the immune system.

In mammals there are five immunoglobulin isotypes.

They perform different roles, and help direct the appropriate immune response for each different type of foreign invader.

Antibodies are cloned in laboratories.

So there we have the ninja Y-shaped antibodies - protecting us from foreign invading antigens. Antibodies are nearly identical, except for slightly different shaped antigen binding sites.

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[ClansThega]

Antibodies ( Ig) are of four types. IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE .
How to remember them ?
G A M E

[miamarvel]

This video is worded strangely, it's important to note that antigens are on your blood cells too, not all are bad/invaders/foreign substances. Antigens are important within our body to trigger immune responses

[humansponge]

I appreciate the ninja animation and subtle background music. Also, the narrator’s voice is lovely.

[Timesofstem]

Thank you for this video i need this currently i am in my last year of TY BSC zoology and we have immunology subject its interesting and confusion in details though and this video clears my basic.

[jagadishsinghin]

Oh my gosh thank you so much, it helped me a lot for today’s test 😊thank you very much

[BotoLishus]

Life is indeed complex and there is immense wonder and beauty just not out there but in us. YET we proudly conclude, “Its all just a random concoction of matter, time and space”. How silly it would be for me to say that about this very well-created, information-loaded video? When we see a beautiful art, we inquire about the artist. When we watch a very well made video we subscribe to its creator. This video appropriately makes me respond in awe and wonder because there ought to be a Maker and a Designer who is Super intelligent and benevolent as the video implies. That is, just as antibodies sacrificially die to save us from infection, the whole story of the Bible can be summed up in this way- God Who brilliantly created the world, in spite of our corruption and sin sent His Son Jesus Christ Who willingly and sacrificially died on our behalf to save us from our condemnation to give us eternal life. I can’t see my antibodies but i have faith that it is working. I haven’t seen God with my physical eyes but His fingerprints is all over the place (including this video). It really takes more faith to be an Atheist than a Theist

[Batman-nzue]

Cool video but at 0:40 "Trigger further chemical reactions to remove the Antigens." just looks too different to what you explain at 1:40 "Antigen binding sites.". One seems to dissolve while other seems to tow away Antigens. Yet where do they end up?

[mardukgilgamesh]

Wouldent toxic material like mercury produce antibodys?

[lipibanerjee]

4dislikes? The probably thought it to be the download button ! Like your explanation! Thanks ✨

[roshnirs]

What if antigen containing other than shape of antibody's binding site come into our body ?..

[pushupguide]

Make video more for parasites adaptation

[sturdyelkgarcia]

I learned this from heath class and I also watch that video in school

[rezentre]

Give me the definition of antibodies plzz

[marlena]

thank you so much i have a science project to do and it's so confusing lmao

[alejandrocarrillo]

How long do antibodies stay in your system

[smartideaslifehacks]

Your English pronunciation is not good

[MediaBuster]

Why don't you show ACTUAL video of the antibodies instead of these computer graphics?

[heatherbrown]

Great video however neutralizing is spelled wrong!