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Antibodies and vaccination
Antibodies are special proteins our immune system makes to fight off invaders like viruses and bacteria. Vaccinations teach our body how to make these antibodies *before* we get sick, giving us protection without suffering the illness. It's like a practice drill for your immune system.
Need to know
What you need to know
- Hinge region – gives flexibility to bind around antigen.
- Antigen binding sites – sequence of amino acids in these regions make a specific 3D shape which binds to one type of antigen Functions of antibodies.
- attach to flagella of bacteria making them less active and easier for phagocytes to engulf.
- cause agglutination (clumping together) of bacteria, reducing chances of spread.
- punch holes in bacteria cell walls, causing them to burst when they absorb water by osmosis.
- antibodies coat bacteria, making phagocytosis easier as phagocytes have receptor proteins.
- combine with toxins, neutralising them (antitoxins).
- combine with viruses and bacterial toxins, preventing them from entering or damaging cells Hybridoma method for the production of monoclonal antibodies.
Explanation
Antibodies & Vaccines Made Simple
- Understand antibody structure: Y-shape, variable/constant regions, antigen-binding site.
- Grasp active vs. passive immunity: how they differ in origin and duration.
- Trace the vaccination process: from antigen exposure to memory cell formation.
- Connect vaccination to disease control and the concept of herd immunity.