🦠Antigen vs Antibody🛡️
Antigens and antibodies work as a matched pair in the immune system. One is the threat the body detects; the other is the body's tailored response.
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🦠Antigen
- ✓A foreign molecule that triggers an immune response
- ✓Often a protein on the surface of a pathogen
- ✓Recognized as 'non-self' by the immune system
- ✓Examples include parts of viruses and bacteria
- ✓Each antigen has a specific shape the body identifies
🛡️Antibody
- ✓A Y-shaped protein produced by the immune system
- ✓Made by white blood cells called B cells
- ✓Binds specifically to a matching antigen
- ✓Neutralizes or marks pathogens for destruction
- ✓Provides lasting immunity after infection or vaccination
Verdict
An antigen is the alarm — a foreign marker the body detects. An antibody is the custom-built response that locks onto that antigen. Vaccines work by introducing antigens to train antibody production.
Frequently asked
How do antibodies recognize antigens?+
Each antibody has a binding site shaped to fit one specific antigen, like a lock and key.
What cells make antibodies?+
B cells, a type of white blood cell, produce and release antibodies.
How do vaccines use antigens?+
Vaccines expose the body to harmless antigens so it builds antibodies before a real infection.
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