LATI 3503 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: B-Cell Receptor, Memory B Cell, Primary And Secondary Antibodies
20 Oct 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Humoral immunity is mediated by secreted antibodies and its physiological function is defense against extracellular microbes (including viruses) and microbial exotoxins. Humoral immunity can be transferred to other individuals by the transfer of serum (antibodies). Defect in humoral immunity leads to enhanced infections by bacteria and fungi. Antibodies also participate in autoimmune disorders and hypersensitivity. When an antigen with multiple epitopes gains entry into the body, different clones of. B cells recognize and produce antibodies against different epitopes, thus the natural response is said to by polyclonal. However, by using hybridoma technology it is possible to develop a clone of b cells directed against a single epitope, and produce monoclonal antibodies. Antibodies are produced by plasma cells in the secondary lymphoid organs, but antibodies can perform their effector functions at any site in the body. Once the antibodies enter the circulation or mucosa, they can easily reach sites of infection.
