Antibody Antibody ProductionProduction

Antibody: a globular protein Antibody: a globular protein that recognizes a specific that recognizes a specific antigen.antigen.

Antigen: a substance or Antigen: a substance or molecule that causes molecule that causes antibody formation antibody formation (characteristic to the surface (characteristic to the surface of a cell/cell type)of a cell/cell type)

When the immune system is When the immune system is challenged by the invasion of challenged by the invasion of a pathogen, the a pathogen, the corresponding lymphocyte corresponding lymphocyte responds.responds.

Lymphocyte with antigens

Production of Production of antibodiesantibodies

This process is called clonal selection, as This process is called clonal selection, as the right lymphocyte is selected then the right lymphocyte is selected then cloned.cloned.

①① The antigen infects and is presented The antigen infects and is presented to the lymphocytes.to the lymphocytes.

②② The lymphocyte with a surface The lymphocyte with a surface epitope complementary to the antigen epitope complementary to the antigen is selected.is selected.

③③ The lymphocyte clones to produce The lymphocyte clones to produce many plasma cells. This occurs in the many plasma cells. This occurs in the lymph nodes.lymph nodes.

④④ The clone of plasma cells is produced.The clone of plasma cells is produced.

⑤⑤ The gene for the antibody is The gene for the antibody is expressed and secreted into the expressed and secreted into the plasma and tissue fluid.plasma and tissue fluid.

⑥⑥ The antibody circulated in body fluids The antibody circulated in body fluids destroying the infectious antigendestroying the infectious antigen

(a) There are many different lymphocytes.(a) There are many different lymphocytes.

(b) The antigen infects and is presented to (b) The antigen infects and is presented to the lymphocytes.the lymphocytes.

(c) The lymphocyte with a surface epitope (c) The lymphocyte with a surface epitope complementary to the antigen is selected.complementary to the antigen is selected.

(d) The lymphocyte clones to produce (d) The lymphocyte clones to produce many plasma cells. This occurs in the many plasma cells. This occurs in the

lymph nodes.lymph nodes.

(e) The clone of plasma cells is produced.(e) The clone of plasma cells is produced.

(f) The gene for the antibody is expressed (f) The gene for the antibody is expressed and secreted into the plasma and tissue and secreted into the plasma and tissue

fluid.fluid.

(g) The antibody circulated in body fluids (g) The antibody circulated in body fluids destroying the infectious antigen.destroying the infectious antigen.

Animation of Antibody Animation of Antibody Production: Production: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olc/dl/120110/micro43.swf

ReferencesReferences"Defence from infectious disease." "Defence from infectious disease." Click4Biology. Web. Click4Biology. Web. 07 Oct. 2009. 07 Oct. 2009. <http://click4biology.info/c4b/6/hum6.3.htm#six>.<http://click4biology.info/c4b/6/hum6.3.htm#six>.

Taylor, Stephen. "Defense Against Infectious Disease Taylor, Stephen. "Defense Against Infectious Disease (Core)." (Core)." Upload & Share PowerPoint presentations Upload & Share PowerPoint presentations and documents. and documents. Slideshare.net, Jan. 2009. Web. 08 Slideshare.net, Jan. 2009. Web. 08 Oct. 2009. http://Oct. 2009. http://www.slideshare.net/gurustip/defense-against-infectious-disease-

core-presentation. core-presentation. 

Taylor, Stephen. "Defense Against Infectious Disease Taylor, Stephen. "Defense Against Infectious Disease (AHL)." (AHL)." Upload & Share PowerPoint presentations Upload & Share PowerPoint presentations and documents. and documents. Slideshare.net, Jan. 2009. Web. 08 Slideshare.net, Jan. 2009. Web. 08 Oct. 2009. http://Oct. 2009. http://www.slideshare.net/gurustip/defense-against-infectious-disease-

ahl-presentationahl-presentation