The Adaptive Immune System: Ways That Antibodies Defend the Body

Learning Objectives for "The Adaptive Immune System: Ways That Antibodies Defend the Body - Neutralization of Exotoxins"

After completing this section you should be able to perform the following objectives.

1.* Discuss the how antibodies defend the body by way of neutralizing exotoxins. (Include what classes or isotypes of immunoglobulins are involved, the role of the Fab portion of the antibody, the role - if any - of the Fc portion of the antibody, and the role of any complement proteins, if any, involved.)

2. Describe how the ability of bacteria to sense their own population density, communicate with each other by way of secreted factors (cell-to-cell signaling), and behave as a population rather than as individual bacteria most likely plays an important role in pathogenicity for many bacteria.

(*) or (**) = possible discussion question

RETURN TO "THE ADAPTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM: WAYS THAT ANTIBODIES DEFEND THE BODY - NEUTRALIZATION OF EXOTOXINS"