Antibodies are an essential part of the immune system, which helps protect the body from infections and diseases. They are produced by the immune system in response to foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Antibodies are also known as immunoglobulins and are a crucial component of the body’s defense mechanism.
Definitions
An antibody is a protein molecule that is produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance in the body. It is designed to recognize and bind to the foreign substance, known as an antigen, and neutralize or eliminate it from the body.
Origin
The term “antibody” was first used in 1890 by the German bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich, who discovered that the body could produce specific substances to fight off infections. He called these substances “antikörper,” which translates to “against the body.”
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an antibody is “any of a large number of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced normally by specialized B cells after stimulation by an antigen and act specifically against the antigen in an immune response.”
The Oxford English Dictionary defines an antibody as “a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances which the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.”
Associations
Antibodies are associated with the immune system and are essential in protecting the body from infections and diseases. They are also used in medical treatments such as immunotherapy and in diagnostic tests such as ELISA and Western blot.
Synonyms
Synonyms of antibody include immunoglobulin, antitoxin, antiserum, and immune serum.
Antonyms
Antonyms of antibody include antigen, foreign substance, and pathogen.
The same root words
The same root words as antibody include immunoglobulin, immunology, immune system, and immunization.
Example Sentences
- The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics to treat the infection, but the patient’s immune system also produced antibodies to fight off the bacteria.
- The ELISA test detects the presence of specific antibodies in the blood, which can indicate the presence of an infection or disease.
- Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses antibodies to target and destroy cancer cells.
- The immune system produces different types of antibodies, each designed to recognize and bind to specific antigens.