Vaccine and Immunology

Antibodies: Engineering & Therapeutics

Large Y-shaped proteins known as antibodies, or immunoglobulins, have the ability to recognize and aid in the removal of foreign antigens or targets, such as bacteria and viruses. B lymphocytes, often known as B cells, are specialized white blood cells that produce antibodies. An antigen that attaches itself to the surface of a B cell causes the B cell to proliferate and develop into a clone, which is a collection of identical cells. The lymphatic system and bloodstream receive millions of antibodies secreted by mature B cells known as plasma cells. Each type of antibody identifies a distinct foreign antigen. This is due to the fact that each of its two "Y" points is unique to each antigen, enabling various antibodies to attach to various foreign antigens.  The immune system reacts to the presence of an antigen by producing antibodies. With the development of discovery methodologies, production tactics, and modification techniques, antibody engineering has become a well-developed field that has produced treatments that have been clinically studied and commercialized. The achievement of the long-standing objective of producing fully human monoclonal antibodies has directed a great deal of research toward the clinical application of this powerful class of medications.