EQUIPPING THE ARMY - The Role of Antibodies in Host Defense and Medicine

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the role of antibodies in host defense and medicine, focusing on B cell functionalities and antibody characteristics.

B cell repertoire

The diverse collection of B cells in the immune system capable of recognizing various antigens.

Clonal selection

The process by which specific B cells are activated and proliferate in response to an antigen.

B cell receptor (BCR)

The surface immunoglobulin on B cells that enables them to bind to specific antigens.

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies derived from a single clone of B cells, providing a specific response to one epitope.

Polyclonal antibodies

Antibodies produced from multiple B cell clones, resulting in a mixture of specificities.

VDJ recombination

The process by which B cell receptor genes are rearranged to produce diverse antibody specificities.

Complement activation

The process by which antibodies trigger a complement cascade to enhance immune response against pathogens.

Neutralization

The ability of antibodies to block pathogens or toxins from entering or harming host cells.

Opsonization

Enhanced phagocytosis of antigens marked by antibodies for destruction by immune cells.

ADCC (Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity)

A mechanism by which immune cells kill target cells that have been coated with antibodies.

Memory B cells

B cells that remain after an immune response, capable of quickly responding to subsequent encounters with the same antigen.

Antigen-antibody complex

The union of an antigen with its specific antibody, which can trigger various immune responses.

Humanized monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies engineered to reduce immune responses against them, improving their therapeutic efficacy.

Isotype switching

The process by which a B cell changes the class of antibody it produces while retaining the same antigen specificity.

Complementarity determining regions (CDRs)

Regions in the variable domains of antibodies that determine specificity for antigens.