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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Unraveling Key Players of Humoral Immunity: Advanced and Optimized Lymphocyte Isolation Protocol from Murine Peyer's Patches
Published on: November 21, 2018
The role of secretory antibodies in infection immunity
Richard A Strugnell1, Odilia L C Wijburg
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, VIC 3010 Australia. rastru@unimelb.edu.au
Abstract:
The mucosal secretory immune system provides an important primary defence against disease, as studies of humans with mucosal humoral immunodeficiencies suggest that the absence of secretory immunoglobulin A leads to an increase in mucosal infections. However, the infection risks posed do not seem to provide the evolutionary drive to retain constitutive secretion of often 'hard won' protein, suggesting that secretory antibodies may have some other important function (or functions). This Review examines the evidence that secretory antibodies provide an important defence against infection in specific animal models and explores complementary explanations for the evolution of the secretory immune system.
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