Antibodies are a crucial part of the human immune system, acting as the body’s defense mechanism against infections and diseases. In this blog post, we’ll explore what antibodies are, how they function, and why they are vital for maintaining our health. We’ll also introduce how our LWNVIVAT project is using this knowledge to develop vaccines and antibodies against the West Nile Virus (WNV).

What Are Antibodies?

Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are specialized proteins produced by the immune system in response to foreign invaders called antigens. Antigens can include viruses, bacteria, toxins, cancerous cells, and other harmful substances. Each antibody is unique and designed to target a specific antigen, much like a lock and key mechanism.

Antibodies are produced by a type of white blood cell called B cells (B lymphocytes). When the immune system detects an antigen, B cells are activated and begin producing antibodies specific to that antigen.

How Do Antibodies Work?

Antibodies perform several critical functions to protect the body from infections. First, they can neutralize pathogens by binding to them. For example, when antibodies bind to the West Nile Virus (WNV), they can block it and prevent it from entering host cells or spreading throughout the body. In addition, antibodies mark the virus for destruction by other immune cells, such as macrophages, and activate immune responses like the complement system. Antibodies can also cause pathogens to clump together, making it easier for immune cells to capture and destroy them.

Structure of an antibody

Antibodies have two main parts: the crystallizable fragment (Fc) and the antigen-binding fragment (Fab). The Fc part of the antibody interacts with the rest of the immune system to activate an immune response and bind to immune cells. The Fab part binds to the pathogen and a specific antigen, containing the variable region of the antibody. This variability allows us to fight against many different pathogens or foreign invaders, giving us the capacity to respond to a wide range of threats.

The importance of antibodies in medicine and in LWNVIVAT

Antibodies have significant applications in medicine and research. They are used in diagnostic tests to detect infections and diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, and COVID-19, and can have therapeutic uses, enhancing the immune response against various conditions, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases.

In the LWNVIVAT project, we are developing antibodies against WNV, aiming for them to have a high neutralizing capacity. This means that our antibodies will be designed to block the virus effectively, preventing it from causing disease. The main goal of these antibodies is to have a therapeutic effect, helping treat individuals who are infected with the virus.