Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Surface Membrane Barriers

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...

Mucosal Barrier of the Stomach

Mucosal Barrier of the Stomach

The gastric glands contain parietal cells that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) for digestion. The cells secrete HCl because it is highly corrosive and essential for breaking down food. To achieve this, they secrete hydrogen and chloride ions into the lumen of the gastric glands, which combine to form HCl.
Within parietal cells, carbonic acid is first formed through the reaction of water and carbon dioxide. The dissociation of carbonic acid releases bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. The bicarbonate...

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...

Microbiome of the Eye

Microbiome of the Eye

The human eye has a specialized microbiota that reflects its unique anatomical and immunological environment. This low-biomass microbial community predominantly colonizes the conjunctiva and eyelid margins, playing a vital role in ocular surface homeostasis and defense. Despite its proximity to the richly colonized facial skin, the ocular surface maintains a distinct microbial profile due to continuous mechanical and biochemical defense mechanisms.The conjunctival surface hosts fewer microbial...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

OspA antibodies inhibit the <i>in vitro</i> transmigration of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i>.

Infection and immunity·2026

Same author

Broadly conserved protective epitopes on the lyme disease vaccine antigen, OspA.

PLoS pathogens·2026

Same author

An Fc-silent OspA monoclonal antibody passively protects mice from tick and intradermal Borrelia burgdorferi challenge.

PloS one·2026

Same author

Maternal expression and breast milk transfer of an mRNA- encoded monoclonal antibody in a murine model of cholera.

PLoS neglected tropical diseases·2026

Same author

A Chip-Based Surveillance Platform for Detecting Antibody-Based Immunity and Immune Escape Using SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus Surrogates.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2025

Same author

Germline encoded residues dominate the interaction of a human monoclonal antibody with decorin binding protein A of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i>.

Frontiers in immunology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella

Published on: February 9, 2024

Secretory IgA: arresting microbial pathogens at epithelial borders.

Nicholas J Mantis¹, Stephen J Forbes

¹Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, New York 12208, USA. nmantis@wadsworth.org

Immunological Investigations

|May 11, 2010

Summary

Secretory IgA (SIgA) protects the gut lining from pathogens. New research suggests SIgA may also directly disrupt microbial virulence factors at mucosal surfaces.

More Related Videos

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Intestinal Organoids to Study and Modify Epithelial Cell Protection Against Salmonella and Other Pathogens

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Intestinal Organoids to Study and Modify Epithelial Cell Protection Against Salmonella and Other Pathogens

Published on: May 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella

Epithelial Cell Infection Analyses with Shigella

Published on: February 9, 2024

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Intestinal Organoids to Study and Modify Epithelial Cell Protection Against Salmonella and Other Pathogens

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Intestinal Organoids to Study and Modify Epithelial Cell Protection Against Salmonella and Other Pathogens

Published on: May 12, 2019

Area of Science:

Immunology
Microbiology
Gastroenterology

Background:

Secretory IgA (SIgA) is the primary antibody in intestinal secretions.
SIgA's protective role against enteric pathogens and toxins is established, but molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on SIgA's protective functions in the intestine.
To explore the molecular mechanisms by which SIgA prevents pathogen and toxin access to the intestinal epithelium.
To present novel findings on SIgA's direct interference with microbial virulence.

Main Methods:

Literature review of SIgA function in mucosal immunity.
Analysis of experimental data on monoclonal IgA interaction with Salmonella.
Proposed model for SIgA's direct anti-virulence activity.

Main Results:

SIgA effectively prevents microbial pathogens and toxins from reaching the intestinal epithelium.
Specific monoclonal IgA demonstrated interaction with Salmonella.
Evidence suggests SIgA can directly interfere with microbial virulence mechanisms.

Conclusions:

SIgA plays a critical role in intestinal mucosal defense.
SIgA possesses a previously unrecognized ability to directly inhibit microbial virulence at mucosal surfaces.
Further research into SIgA's direct anti-virulence mechanisms is warranted.