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Related Concept Videos

Antibody Structure01:10

Antibody Structure

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Overview
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
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Specific Heat01:16

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The specific heat capacity of a substance refers to the energy required to increase the temperature of one gram of that substance by one degree Celcius. Specific heat capacity is often represented in calories (cal), grams (g), and degrees Celsius (oC), but can also be expressed in joules (J), kilograms (kg), and Kelvin (K), among other units.
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Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are critical players in the immune system's arsenal against invading pathogens. Produced by B cells and plasma cells, their primary role is to detect and bind to specific antigens, molecules found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Beyond antigen recognition, antibodies perform several vital functions that contribute to immune defense.
Neutralization
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Antibody Structure and Classes01:25

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Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are produced by B cells in response to foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. These proteins are critical for recognizing and neutralizing these substances, protecting the body from potential harm.
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Density, Specific Weight, Specific Gravity and Compressibility of Fluid01:27

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Density, specific weight, specific gravity, and compressibility are fundamental properties of fluids. Density is the mass per unit volume, characterizing the mass of a fluid system. It influences buoyancy, pressure, flow dynamics, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and sound propagation. For instance, in pipeline design, accurate density measurements ensure that the pipeline can handle the fluid's mass.
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Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
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Analysis of Histone Antibody Specificity with Peptide Microarrays
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Analysis of Histone Antibody Specificity with Peptide Microarrays

Published on: August 1, 2017

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Antibody specificity and promiscuity.

Deepti Jain1, Dinakar M Salunke2

  • 1Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad 121001, India deepti@rcb.res.in dinakar.salunke55@gmail.com.

The Biochemical Journal
|February 7, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The immune system displays remarkable specificity for foreign antigens. However, antibodies can be multi-specific, binding to multiple antigens, a phenomenon linked to molecular mimicry and autoimmunity.

Keywords:
antigen–antibody recognitioncross-reactivitymulti-specificityplasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The immune system's ability to distinguish self from non-self is crucial for defense.
  • Antibody specificity is essential for targeting foreign antigens, even novel ones.
  • Antibodies evolve specificity through somatic mutations and selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the contrast between antibody specificity and promiscuity.
  • To elucidate the structural mechanisms underlying antibody multi-specificity.
  • To address the paradox of immune specificity versus antibody cross-reactivity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on antibody structure and function.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms of antibody-antigen interactions.
  • Discussion of evolutionary and immunological contexts of antibody diversity.

Main Results:

  • Antibodies can exhibit functional promiscuity, binding to multiple antigens.
  • Molecular mimicry is a key factor in antibody cross-reactivity.
  • Cross-reactivity can contribute to autoimmune responses when foreign and self-antigens share similarities.

Conclusions:

  • The immune system balances exquisite specificity with inherent antibody promiscuity.
  • Structural insights reveal how antibodies achieve multi-specific binding.
  • Understanding antibody cross-reactivity is vital for addressing autoimmunity and immune defense.