Describe the mechanisms of action of antibodies
What will be an ideal response?
Antibodies act against foreign antigens in many ways. In agglutination, several immunoglobulin (antibody) molecules bind two or more microbial cells together, causing them to clump. This process hinders the activity of pathogenic organisms and increases the chances that they will be phagocytized. Antibodies may neutralize toxins produced by pathogens by binding to critical portions of the toxins and preventing them from functioning against the body. Antibodies may bind to virus ligands or bacterial adhesins and prevent the pathogen from attaching to cells of the body. Antibodies also act as opsonins, which are molecules that stimulate phagocytosis. Binding of the antibody to foreign antigens on the surface of cells facilitates the action of natural killer lymphocytes. IgG antibody bound to antigen can become enzymatically active and produce hydrogen peroxide to damage and kill the microbe to which it is bound. IgG and IgM antibodies that have bound antigen can trigger the complement cascade. IgE antibodies trigger the release of chemicals which damage cells and inflammatory chemicals from eosinophils and basophils.
You might also like to view...
Superantigens are
A. bacterial toxins that activate T cells at a 100 times greater rate than other antigens. B. cell markers found in some member of a species but not in other members. C. body tissues that the immune system mistakes as foreign. D. antigens that evoke allergic reactions.
Chicken breast is made up of __________ which
accounts for why they can’t fly long distances. a. slow-twitch fibers b. fibrous connective tissue c. polymerated red blood cells d. fast-twitch fibers e. all of these
Comparisons of DNA sequences within the human species have revealed many variations. Which of the following variations involves duplication of relatively long stretches of chromosomes, often including the duplication of protein-coding genes?
A) CNVs B) SNPs C) STRs D) Transposable elements
Which can provide information about what functions are active in the microbiome at a given moment in time? Choose all that apply.
A. Meta-metabolome analysis B. Whole metagenomic sequencing C. Metaproteome analysis D. Metatranscriptome analysis E. Amplicon analysis of 16S rRNA