An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin is a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells that is used by the immune system to neutralize pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the pathogen, called an antigen, via the fragment antigen binding (Fab) variable region.Each tip of the "Y" of an antibody contains a paratope (analogous to a lock) that is specific for one particular epitope (analogous to a key) on an antigen, allowing these two structures to bind together with precision. Using this binding mechanism, an antibody can tag a microbe or an infected cell for attack by other parts of the immune system, or can neutralize its target directly (for example, by inhibiting a part of a microbe that is essential for its invasion and survival). Depending on the antigen, the binding may impede the biological process causing the disease or may activate macrophages to destroy the foreign substance. The ability of an antibody to communicate with the other components of the immune system is mediated via its Fc region (located at the base of the "Y"), which contains a conserved glycosylation site involved in these interactions.The production of antibodies is the main function of the humoral immune system.
Last Updated on: Oct 06, 2024List of Open Access Journals View More
Dermatology Case Reports: Open Access Journal
DCROAJ welcome authors to contribute current research and reports, clinical studies, review articles, short communication, editorial, letter to editor, survey reports submission of manuscripts related to devices in dermatology, dermatology studies, new technology in dermatology, biological materials, venereology, leprology etc....View More
Public Health and Epidemiology: Open Access Journal
PHEOAJ is a scholarly open access peer-reviewed journal aim to publish be valuable source of information both experimental and theoretical in the field of Public health, Epidemiology, Health care system...View More
Clinical Trials and Medical Case Reports
Clinical trials and Medical Case reports is an open access peer reviewed journal. It publishes Clinical trials, Medical case reports and Medical images from all fields of medicine in all orders by which medicinal services experts, specialists and others can easily understand the disease conditions...View More
Reviews in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Reviews in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that aims to publish high quality research on Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance, Pharmaceutics, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy...View More
Journal of Environmental and Pollution
JEP is a scholarly open access peer-reviewed journal aim to publish be valuable source of information both experimental and theoretical in the field of environmental issues and Pollution and its applications...View More
Endocrinology and Endocrine System
Endocrinology and Endocrine System is an Open Access journal which aims to develop knowledge and to share the information freely by making them available through online without any restrictions or any other subscriptions to researchers worldwide and also to the readers globally...View More