Antigens & Antibodies: Extended (CIE IGCSE Biology)

• All cells have molecules, such as proteins, projecting from their cell membranes
• These are known as antigens
• Different individuals have different antigens on their cell surface membranes
• Lymphocytes can recognise foreign antigens, e.g. the antigens of a pathogen inside the body
• In response to foreign antigens lymphocytes make antibodies which are complementary in shape to the antigens on the surface of the pathogenic cell

Lymphocytes producing antibodies diagram

Lymphocytes produce antibodies that are specific to a particular type of antigen

The role of antibodies

• Antibodies can attach to antigens and cause agglutination of pathogens
  • This means the pathogenic cells cannot move around very easily
• At the same time chemicals are released that signal the presence of pathogens to phagocytes
• Phagocytes move towards the site of an infection where they engulf and destroy pathogens
  • Many pathogens can be engulfed together due to agglutination

Phagocytes and agglutination diagram

Agglutinated pathogens cannot move around so phagocytosis can occur more easily

Immunity

• The initial response of a lymphocyte encountering a pathogen for the first time can take a few days, during which time an individual may get sick
• After an initial encounter with a pathogen lymphocytes cab give rise to memory cells that retain the instructions for making specific antibodies
• This means that, in the case of reinfection by the same type of pathogen, antibodies can be made very quickly and in greater quantities; the pathogens are destroyed before they multiply and cause illness
  • This is how people become immune to certain diseases after only having them once
• Note that this does not work with all disease-causing microorganisms as some of them mutate quickly and change the antigens on their cell surface
  • Therefore, if they invade the body for a second time the memory cells made in the first infection will not produce antibodies that match the new antibodies