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

Antibody Actions

Antibody Actions

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
Antibodies can bind to pathogens, preventing them from infecting host cells. This process...

Humoral Immune Responses

Humoral Immune Responses

Antibody Structure and Classes

Antibody Structure and Classes

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.
The basic structure of an antibody consists of four protein chains: two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains. These chains are held together by disulfide bonds and other non-covalent interactions, forming a Y-shaped structure.

Antibody Structure

Antibody Structure

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
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...

Affinity and Avidity

Affinity and Avidity

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

The Effector Functions of Antibodies.

Immunological reviews·2024

Same author

Life-threatening antibodies: The discovery of anaphylaxis.

Immunological reviews·2024

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2025

In Vivo Immunofluorescence Localization for Assessment of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibody Biodistribution in Cancer Research

In Vivo Immunofluorescence Localization for Assessment of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibody Biodistribution in Cancer Research

Published on: September 16, 2019

The function of antibodies.

Marc Daëron^1,2,3

¹Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix Marseille Université-CNRS-Inserm, Marseille, France.

Immunological Reviews

|August 24, 2024

Summary

Antibodies possess vast functional repertoires, not specific traits, enabling adaptive immunity. This flexibility allows organisms to adapt to changing environments and future challenges, explaining their evolutionary selection.

Keywords:

antibody receptors functional repertoires selection

More Related Videos

A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies

A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies

Published on: February 23, 2018

Studying Protein Function and the Role of Altered Protein Expression by Antibody Interference and Three-dimensional Reconstructions

Studying Protein Function and the Role of Altered Protein Expression by Antibody Interference and Three-dimensional Reconstructions

Published on: April 21, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2025

In Vivo Immunofluorescence Localization for Assessment of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibody Biodistribution in Cancer Research

In Vivo Immunofluorescence Localization for Assessment of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibody Biodistribution in Cancer Research

Published on: September 16, 2019

A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies

A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies

Published on: February 23, 2018

Studying Protein Function and the Role of Altered Protein Expression by Antibody Interference and Three-dimensional Reconstructions

Studying Protein Function and the Role of Altered Protein Expression by Antibody Interference and Three-dimensional Reconstructions

Published on: April 21, 2016

Area of Science:

Immunology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Antibodies exhibit diverse and often contradictory biological activities, performing crucial roles in health and disease.
The evolutionary persistence of antibodies suggests a fundamental, yet not fully understood, biological function.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the fundamental function of antibodies by examining their structure-function relationship.
To explore how antibody structure contributes to their broad range of biological activities and evolutionary selection.

Main Methods:

Analysis of antibody structure to understand cognitive and effector properties.
Examination of antibody functional repertoires, including virtual, available, and selected repertoires.

Main Results:

Antibodies possess extensive cognitive and effector repertoires, not fixed functions.
These repertoires are selected from larger virtual reservoirs, providing a dynamic range of potential activities.
The adaptive immune system utilizes these repertoires, actualizing functions based on environmental context.

Conclusions:

Antibody function is characterized by a large repertoire of cognitive and effector capabilities, rather than specific, singular roles.
This functional flexibility, enabling adaptation to environmental changes and future uncertainties, is proposed as the primary selective advantage driving antibody evolution.