Immune Response and Antibodies

Overview and Function

MATTHEW AIKEN
What is Immune Response?

Immune response is the process by which an organism detects and attempts to protect itself against
foreign substances.
The immune system protects the body from possibly harmful material by recognizing and responding to
antigens. Antigens are substances (often proteins) which exist on the surfaces of pathogens. Pathogens
are agents which induce illness, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Substances such as toxins,
chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles can also be antigens or contain antigens. The immune system
recognizes and eliminates, or tries to eliminate, substances that contain antigens.
How Immune Response Works

When the aforementioned antigens attach to special receptors on immunocytes, a whole series of processes is
triggered in the body. Cells of the immune system attack the malicious organisms and produce chemicals to hinder
their reproduction. B Lymphocytes are prompted to produce antibodies, which attach themselves to specific
antigens. T Lymphocytes directly attack pathogens and call other immune cells into action.
When the body is exposed to a new pathogen, it usually stores information about it and how to combat it. Then, if it
is exposed again, it recognizes the germ straight away and can start fighting it faster and more efficiently, as
previously produced antibodies are still present. This is the reason that certain diseases, such as chicken pox are not
usually contracted more than once. The body has learnt how to deal with that virus. This is also the basis of
vaccination.

Like pathogens, the body’s own cells have proteins on their surface, too. These proteins do not usually trigger an
immune response. The immune system is meant to be able to differentiate between the body’s cells and pathogens
and foreign bodies. However, sometimes the immune system mistakes body cells for a threat. It then attacks
healthy, harmless cells in the body. This is known as an autoimmune response. Instances of this include vitiligo and
type 1 diabetes.
Types of Immunity

Innate Immunity

As the name suggests, innate immunity refers to immunity which the body is already equipped with
at birth. It employs nonspecific defense mechanism and is activated as soon as a foreign body is
recognized.

Acquired Immunity

This strategy of immunity has been developed throughout a lifetime and provides targeted response
to certain pathogens. It consists of specialized, systemic cells and processes which work to destroy
pathogens. It is attained by previous infection or vaccination, or sometimes from an immune donor.
Antibodies

Antibodies are blood proteins produced by the immune system when foreign substances, antigens
are detected. These proteins recognize and attach themselves to the antigens and proceed to
attack them and neutralize the threat. They are produced by B cells. Upon contact with an antigen,
B cells are stimulated to divide and produce clones of themselves. These mature, ephemeral clones
produced tremendous amounts of antibodies, releasing millions into the bloodstream
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