Humoral immunity Humoral
The immune system protects the body from invading disease-causing organisms, or pathogens. Pathogens and other non-self molecules are antigens  foreign molecules recognized by the immune system, stimulating an immune response. The majority of infections by pathogens occurs in mucous membranes of our body. B cells must interact with Helper T cells, other specialized white blood cells, to initiate antibody production. An important concept is that once activated, memory cells are produced that insure that a more rapid and stronger immune response can be made upon re-exposure to the same pathogen. An antibody is a protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralise foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. Each antibody recognises a specific antigen unique to its target. Production of antibodies is referred to as the humoral immune system. Antigens are usually proteins or polysaccharides (long chains of sugar molecules that make up the cell wall of certain bacteria), but can be any type of molecule, including small molecules (haptens) coupled to a protein (carrier). Antigens induce immunity. The immune system develops a defence against foreign antigens. The adaptive immune response can be either humoral or cell-mediated. The humoral response is mediated by B lymphocytes, which release antibodies specific to the infectious agent. The cell-mediated response involves the binding of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to foreign or infected cells, followed by the lysis of these cells. The components of the innate immune system provide a first line of defense against infection. Physical barriers to infection include skin, which prevents pathogen penetration, and bodily fluids like mucus, which collect and clear pathogens. Humoral immunity, also called the antibody-mediated beta cellularis immune system, is the aspect of immunity that is mediated by macromolecules (as opposed to cell-mediated immunity) found in extracellular fluids such as secreted antibodies, complement proteins and certain antimicrobial peptides. An incompatible blood transfusion causes a transfusion reaction, which is mediated by the humoral immune response. This type of reaction, called an acute hemolytic reaction, results in the rapid destruction (hemolysis) of the donor red blood cells by host antibodies. Though strictly speaking, an antibody is not the same as an immunoglobulin; B cells can produce two types of immunoglobulins-surface immunoglobulins, which are B cell receptors; and secreted immunoglobulins, which are antibodies. So antibodies are one of two classes of immunoglobulins. The ability of an antibody to bind to its corresponding FcR is further modulated by the structure of the glycan(s) present at conserved sites within its Fc region. The ability of antibodies to bind to FcRs helps to direct the appropriate immune response for each different type of foreign object they encounter. Active immunity is stimulation of the immune system to produce antigen-specific humoral (antibody) and cellular immunity. Unlike passive immunity, which is temporary, active immunity usually lasts for many years, often for a lifetime. One way to acquire active immunity is to have the natural disease. Antigens are usually proteins or polysaccharides (long chains of sugar molecules that make up the cell wall of certain bacteria), but can be any type of molecule, including small molecules (haptens) coupled to a protein (carrier). Antigens induce immunity. The immune system develops a defence against foreign antigens. The immune system is a system of many biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease. To function properly, an immune system must detect a wide variety of agents, known as pathogens, from viruses to parasitic worms, and distinguish them from the organism's own healthy tissue. Inflammation is one of the first responses of the immune system to infection. The symptoms of inflammation are redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are caused by increased blood flow into tissue. Inflammation is produced by eicosanoids and cytokines, which are released by injured or infected cells. Each antibody binds to a specific antigen; an interaction similar to a lock and key. An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shape protein produced by plasma cells that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the harmful agent, called an antigen, via the variable region. The ability of an antibody to bind to its corresponding FcR is further modulated by the structure of the glycan(s) present at conserved sites within its Fc region. The ability of antibodies to bind to FcRs helps to direct the appropriate immune response for each different type of foreign object they encounter. The adaptive immune system. The adaptive immune system is activated when the innate system fails to clear pathogens from the body. It consists of a variety of cells and molecules, among which lymphocytes and antibodies are the key elements. Lymphocytes arise continuously from progenitor cells in the bone marrow. The components of the innate immune system provide a first line of defense against infection. Physical barriers to infection include skin, which prevents pathogen penetration, and bodily fluids like mucus, which collect and clear pathogens.
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/immunology/tutorials/AIDS/response.html http://www.immune.org.nz/category/tags/types-immunity http://www.abcam.com/protocols/the-immune-system-and-the-antibody-response https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humoral_immunity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody http://www.immune.org.nz/category/tags/types-immunity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody http://www.abcam.com/protocols/the-immune-system-and-the-antibody-response
antibodies are important in what type of immune response