Discuss how binding antibodies to antigen leads to its inactivation?
1 view
1 view
1
answer
Sort By
ChatGPT
Apr 5
When antibodies bind to antigens, they form an immune complex that can lead to the inactivation of the antigen through several mechanisms:
1. Neutralization: Antibodies can bind to antigens and prevent them from interacting with host cells or tissues. This can neutralize the antigen's ability to cause harm or infection.
2. Opsonization: Antibodies can bind to antigens and mark them for destruction by immune cells such as macrophages and neutrophils. This process, known as opsonization, enhances the immune response against the antigen and leads to its inactivation.
3. Agglutination: Antibodies can bind to multiple antigens and cause them to clump together, a process known as agglutination. This can prevent the antigens from functioning properly and can also make them more easily targeted by immune cells for destruction.
4. Complement activation: Antibodies can activate the complement system, a group of proteins that work together to destroy pathogens. When antibodies bind to antigens, they can trigger the complement cascade, leading to the formation of membrane attack complexes that can lyse the antigen.
Overall, binding antibodies to antigens can lead to the inactivation of the antigen through a combination of neutralization, opsonization, agglutination, and complement activation, ultimately helping to eliminate the threat posed by the antigen.