What are antibodies?

Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by the immune system in response to foreign substances, known as antigens, which include bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. When the body detects these antigens, it triggers an immune response that leads to the production of antibodies. These antibodies bind specifically to the antigens, marking them for destruction or neutralization, effectively helping to protect the body from infections.

In this context, understanding the function of antibodies is crucial in the biomed field, as they play a key role in the immune response, vaccinations, and therapeutic treatments for various diseases. They differ fundamentally from hormones, which are signaling molecules that regulate physiological processes, or minerals, which are inorganic substances crucial for various functions like bone health. Additionally, while antibodies are produced by white blood cells, they are not a type of white blood cell themselves, but rather proteins that those cells generate as part of the immune response.