antigens and antibodies

Cards (3)

  • antigens
    • markers which allow cell to cell recognition
    • some glycolipids or glycoproteins act as antigens
    • can be self antigens= produced by organims own body, doesnt stimulate immune response
    • non-self antigens=not produced by own body, stimulate immune response
    • APC's activate specific immune response, WBC bind to antigens
  • antibody-structure
    • Y shaped molecule
    • consists of 4 polypeptide chains: 2 heavy and 2 light chains, attached by disulfide bonds
    • polypeptide chains have a constant region- doesnt vary
    • or variable region- amino acid sequence of polypeptide chains different for each antibody
    • antigen binding site= vary for specificity
  • antibody function
    • binds to specific antigens
    • disables pathogens by:
    1. act as anti-toxins by binding to toxins from pathogens-neutralise
    2. cause pathogens to clump together(agglutination) stops spreading and enables phagocytes to engulf large number of pathogens
    3. antibodies bind to receptors of host cells, preventing pathogen entering or infecting