Antibodies play a key role in the immune system.

They begin the process of getting rid of

the invaders that may cause harm or infection. This lesson covers how antibodies work
and the different kinds of antibodies.

What Are Antibodies?

Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are Y-shaped proteins that are produced
by the immune system to help stop intruders from harming the body. When an intruder
enters the body, the immune system springs into action. These invaders, which are
called antigens, can be viruses, bacteria, or other chemicals. When an antigen is found in
the body, the immune system will create antibodies to mark the antigen for the body to
destroy.

Function
The antibodies act sort of like the immune system's scouts. They find antigens, stick to
them, and identify for the immune system the exact type of antigen so that it can be
destroyed. Each antibody is made for one and only one antigen, and it's fitted with special
receptors that will only bind to that antigen. For instance, a specific antibody is created to
help destroy the chickenpox virus. Only that particular antibody will attack a chickenpox
virus.

How Antibodies Fight Antigens

So what happens when an antigen tries to enter the body? When it does, the immune
system is triggered. Chemical signals are sent to alert all the different parts of the immune
system into action.

First, the virus is met by a type of cell called B cells. The B cells are responsible for
creating antibodies to match the antigen. Remember, each type of antibody matches to
only one antigen. After the B cells have created their antibodies, the antibodies stick to the
virus, marking it for the next round of attack. T cells are then ordered to attack the antigen
that the antibodies have marked for it.

After the antigen has destroyed, the cleanup crew comes along. A wave of phagocytes,
large cells that can consume foreign matter, eats the remains of the infection.

Immunizations
After an infection is defeated, the antibodies still remain in the body. They are left there to
wait in case that particular antigen returns. For example, after a person gets chickenpox,
the antibody that was created by the immune system to get rid of the chickenpox will
remain in the body. The next time the chickenpox virus tries to invade the patient, the
antibody will be ready. It will instantly attach to the virus, calling the T cells and phagocytes
much quicker, and stopping the infection much earlier.

Immunizations take advantage of the fact that antibodies remain in the body after an
infection is eradicated. Most immunizations consist of a weak or diluted form of an antigen
- not enough of the antigen to make the patient sick, but just enough to trigger the creation
of antibodies. This way, the body can instantly attack any form of the infection it encounters,
stopping the infections before they begin.