Antibodies

Antibodies are proteins that our body produces in response to "foreign bodies", such as viruses, bacteria, or allergens. They act as part of the immune system. When a foreign body enters the body, our immune cells (B-lymphocytes) produce specific antibodies that fit onto the surface of the foreign body and mark it for attack. These antibodies then bind to other immune cells that attack and destroy the foreign body. Some antibodies remain in the body even after the foreign body is removed, allowing us to fight the same foreign body faster and more effectively if it reappears. This mechanism is the basis for the operation of vaccines.