Willy is allergic to ragweed pollen. He has read about a medication that blocks certain antibodies. Explain how this treatment can alleviate his allergy.

What will be an ideal response?


Allergies occur when antigens called allergens bind to specific IgE-type antibodies, which are bound to the surface of mast cells and basophils. A person becomes allergic when he/she develops IgE antibodies for a specific allergen. Theoretically at least, a molecule that would bind to the specific IgE for ragweed allergen, thus blocking its binding process, should help to relieve the allergy.

Anatomy & Physiology

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