PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Antibodies. Antibodies help the body to fight microbes or the toxins (poisons) they produce. They do this by recognising substances called antigens on the surface of the microbe, or in the chemicals they produce, which mark the microbe or toxin as being foreign. The antibodies then mark these antigens for destruction.

Detailed explanation-2: -Antigens are substances (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Nonliving substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles (such as a splinter) can also be antigens. The immune system recognizes and destroys, or tries to destroy, substances that contain antigens.

Detailed explanation-3: -Antibodies can quickly detect germs and other potentially harmful substances, and then attach to them. This neutralizes the “intruders” and attracts other immune system cells to help. Antibodies are produced by the B lymphocytes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Antigens include toxins, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, or other substances that come from outside the body. Body tissues and cells, including cancer cells, also have antigens on them that can cause an immune response.