[Humoral defence against infection (author's transl)]

The importance of endogenous defence against infection for the success of antibiotic therapy is demonstrated using immune defect diseases as an example. The carriers of specific humoral defence against infection are the antibodies and the complement system. Acting either individually or in combination they result in neutralisation of toxins and viruses, an inflammatory reaction and the killing of pathogens. Humoral-cellular antibodies and the complement system play a role in phagocytosis, acting as phagocytosis-enhancing agents (opsonins). The possibility of interaction of antibiotic therapy and endogenous defence against infection is discussed.