When stimulated by an infectious agent or allergen, white blood cells within the body produce proteins called antibodies. Antibodies have the ability to bind selectively to a specific protein or compound, called an antigen, and the...
Antibodies are proteins designed to selectively bind specific proteins, called antigens. Each antibody consists of two large protein chains--called heavy chains--which bind to smaller protein chains called light chains. The light chains on each...
Antibodies are proteins generated by the immune system, and they are designed to bind to specific targets, called antigens. When infectious microbes enter the body, the cells within the immune system secrete antibodies that target the infectious...
Breast tissue staining allows doctors to make specialized diagnoses of breast diseases, like breast cancer. While doctors can identify a breast mass on a mammogram, or detect the presence of cancer by looking at a biopsy specimen, breast tissue...
The Immunology Department of Western Kentucky University reports on Bioweb that the body produces more than 5 million B cells every day that enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system. B cells perform the role of immune surveillance and...
Individuals at risk for HIV infection should be tested on a regular basis. There are several types of HIV tests available, but the most common first test used is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or ELISA, HIV test. If the ELISA is...
Antibodies play a key role in immune system functioning within the body. Antibodies work by binding specific factors called antigens, and there are a range of antibodies in the body that target a range of antigens. Each antibody contains two heavy...
When the body is exposed to a pathogen, like a virus, the immune system creates antibodies against the pathogen. Those antibodies stay in the blood. The next time the body is exposed to that pathogen, the antibodies attack it before it can make us...
An infection involves the colonization of tissues in the body by bacteria, viruses or fungi. During the infection process, the infectious agent enters the body, identifies cells containing specific factors that facilitate infection, and then...
Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system designed to bind to specific factors and stimulate the immune system. Each antibody molecule contains a variable region--a part of the antibody that targets that antibody to one specific...
Xolair, also known as omalizumab, is a medication that belongs to the drug category of monoclonal antibodies, according to Medline Plus. It treats asthma attacks (a condition characterized by wheezing and trouble breathing) when inhaled steroids...
Allergies are caused by a reaction of the immune system to otherwise harmless environmental particles. Many people suffer from the effects of an allergy to pollen. According to a study led by Samual J. Arbes and published in the Journal of Allergy...
The immune system is composed of specialized cells called lymphocytes that use proteins to target, kill and remove infectious agents from the body. The proteins are either attached to the outside of the cell or secreted by the cells, where they...
Viruses are pathogenic organisms made up of genetic material and proteins that infiltrate the host cells and use the resources and machinery of the cells to make more copies of the virus. The body fights viruses using special proteins called...
When someone has an autoimmune disease it means that the immune system is attacking and destroying some part of the body. Weight loss, along with several other symptoms, is a common feature of many autoimmune conditions. Unexplained weight loss,...
An almond allergy, like all food allergies, is caused by an immune reaction against a protein found in the food. Although almonds seem to cause the least allergy problems of all tree nuts, you can develop an allergy against the proteins found in...
The human body relies upon the immune system to help protect it from infection by invading pathogens. One important component of the immune system, the immunoglobulin proteins, are more commonly called antibodies. These proteins identify and bind...
Allergies, which are caused by an overactive immune system, can result in a number of different symptoms. Some kinds of allergies can cause a rash. Often the rash is not a serious medical problem, but such rashes can cause significant discomfort....
Antibodies bind to specific targets within the body with incredibly high affinity and selectivity. Scientists have successfully exploited this property to develop cancer treatments by creating antibodies which bind to specific components of...
People are typically tested for Salmonella typhi only if they demonstrate the signs and symptoms of a Salmonella typhi infection. The initial symptoms are a high fever, which is typically in the 103 to 104 degrees F range (or 39 to 40 degrees C)....
Probiotic drinks have been advertised in media as beneficial to your health. The packages contain wording like, "Helps strengthen your body's defenses" on DanActive, and "Scientifically proven to help with slow intestinal transit when enjoyed...
The Office of Rare Diseases Research (a branch of the National Institutes of Health) classifies rare diseases as those that affect fewer than 200,000 Americans. Most rare diseases are hereditary, which means they can be passed down from a person's...
Antibodies are protein compounds made and secreted by white blood cells that recognize and attack viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances in the body. They are also called immunoglobulins and are found in the blood, spinal fluid and other...
Cancer is caused by genetic mutations---which can be inherited or acquired over time---that lead to cells growing abnormally quickly (causing tumors) and developing the ability to invade other tissues. Because tumor cells are different than normal...
Allergies are the result of the immune system being abnormally sensitive to normally harmless molecules. Patients with allergies can develop strong reactions to specific substances which are then termed allergens. Treating allergies can often be...
The kidneys are blood-filtering organs of the body, which are located in the lower back on either side of the spine. Clusters of blood vessels, called glomeruli, are the filtering structures within the kidney. The glomeruli retain water, while...
Cancer is a devastating disorder that is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 7.4 million deaths in 2004, according to the World Health Organization. Cancer develops from normal cells within the body that acquire genetic mutations,...
White blood cells are part of the body's immune system, which keeps humans safe from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria that can cause infection. Unfortunately, sometimes the immune system gets confused, and treats harmless...
Breast cancer, the uncontrolled proliferation of tissues within the ducts, lobules or nipple of the breast, is a life-threatening disease. The cancer begins as a growth of cells within the breast that begin to invade neighboring tissues and...
