Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Antibody
Antibody
1) A type of protein made by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). Each antibody can bind to only a specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen. Antibodies can work in several ways, depending on the nature of the antigen. Some antibodies destroy antigens directly. Others make it easier for white blood cells to destroy the antigen.
2) An antibody is a protein component of the immune system that circulates in the blood, recognises foreign substances like bacteria and viruses, and neutralises them. After exposure to a foreign substance, called an antigen, antibodies continue to circulate in the blood, providing protection against future exposures to that antigen.
- Part of Speech: noun
- Synonym(s):
- Blossary:
- Industry/Domain: Health care
- Category: Genetic disorders
- Company: National Library of Medicine
- Product:
- Acronym-Abbreviation:
Other Languages:
Member comments
Terms in the News
Featured Terms
Michael Jackson
Dubbed the Kind of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was a celebrated American music artist, dancer, and ...
Contributor
Featured blossaries
Browers Terms By Category
- Cheese(628)
- Butter(185)
- Ice cream(118)
- Yoghurt(45)
- Milk(26)
- Cream products(11)
Dairy products(1013) Terms
- Satellites(455)
- Space flight(332)
- Control systems(178)
- Space shuttle(72)
Aerospace(1037) Terms
- Poker(470)
- Chess(315)
- Bingo(205)
- Consoles(165)
- Computer games(126)
- Gaming accessories(9)
Games(1301) Terms
- Clock(712)
- Calendar(26)
Chronometry(738) Terms
- Festivals(20)
- Religious holidays(17)
- National holidays(9)
- Observances(6)
- Unofficial holidays(6)
- International holidays(5)