Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to protect the body from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. They act as soldiers, identifying and neutralizing threats.
Here's how they work:
- Neutralization: Antibodies bind to pathogens and toxins, preventing them from attaching to and infecting healthy cells. This effectively neutralizes the threat.
- Complement Activation: Antibodies can activate the complement system, a group of proteins in the blood that helps to destroy bacteria by punching holes in their cell walls.
- Opsonization: Antibodies can act as flags, marking pathogens for destruction by other immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils. This process is called opsonization.
Antibodies are essential for a healthy immune response, and their diverse functions make them powerful weapons against infection.
