Antibodies

Antibodies are proteins that are produced by the body's immune system in response to foreign substances (antigens). They are an essential component of humoral immunity and play a key role in protecting the body from infections.

Antibodies specifically bind to antigens, neutralizing them and marking them for subsequent destruction by phagocytes. Each antibody binds to only one specific antigen. There are 5 main classes of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. They perform different functions in the immune system.

Antibodies are produced by plasma cells in response to stimulation of B lymphocytes upon contact with an antigen. The memory of the antigen is stored in B lymphocytes, so upon repeated contact, the immune response develops faster. Antibodies are widely used in medicine and scientific research.