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Antibody multispecificity: A necessary evil?

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Antibody multispecificity, or binding to multiple antigens, is a natural feature. This plasticity enhances the immune system

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Antibodies are crucial for adaptive immunity, with specificity being a key characteristic.
  • However, some antibodies exhibit promiscuity or multireactivity, binding to more than one antigen.
  • Germline antibodies possess plasticity, contributing to multispecificity and an expanded antibody repertoire.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of antibody multispecificity in the immune response.
  • To propose multispecificity as a physiological requirement for repertoire expansion and antigen tolerance.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of antibody characteristics, including germline and affinity-matured antibodies.
  • Exploration of antibody plasticity and multireactivity in binding to multiple antigens.

Main Results:

  • Both germline and affinity-matured antibodies demonstrate plasticity and multireactivity.
  • Antibody multispecificity enhances the antibody repertoire at the germline level.
  • This property aids in tolerating antigen plasticity at the mature level.

Conclusions:

  • Antibody multispecificity is a vital physiological mechanism.
  • It expands the antibody repertoire and accommodates antigen variability.
  • This feature may limit the development of resistance in viruses like influenza, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2.