Computer-Aided Vaccine Design

2

Immunoglobulins and B cell responses

Abstract:

Immunoglobulins or antibodies are proteins that play a central role in humoral immune recognition by binding specifically to the antigens that induced their production. They are able to agglutinate insoluble antigens, rendering them ineffective, and induce the effector cells of the immune system. By coating pathogens, they prevent them from entering or damaging cells, stimulate their removal, and trigger their destruction by activating the complement system. Here, we describe the immunoglobulin classes in humans – IgA (found in body surfaces exposed to outside antigens), IgD (which may be involved in monitoring infection by respiratory bacteria), IgE (found in the lungs, skin and mucous membranes, ...