| antibody | An immunoglobulin molecule that has a specific amino acid sequence by virtue of which it interacts only with the antigen that induced its synthesis in cells of the lymphoid series (especially plasma cells) or with antigen closely related to it. Antibodies are classified according to their ode of action as agglutinins, bacteriolysins, haemolysins, opsonins, precipitins, etc. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| antibody affinity | A measure of the binding strength between antibody and a simple hapten or antigen determinant. It depends on the closeness of stereochemical fit between antibody combining sites and antigen determinants, on the size of the area of contact between them, and on the distribution of charged and hydrophobic groups. It includes the concept of "avidity," which refers to the strength of the antigen-antibody bond after formation of reversible complexes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antibody aldolase | <enzyme> Prepared by reactive immuninization to catalyze a wide variety of aldol reactions and decarboxylations Registry number: EC 4.1.2.- Synonym: fab 33f12, aldolase catalytic antibody (26 Jun 1999) |
| antibody-coated bacteria test, urinary | Fluorescent antibody technique for visualizing antibody-bacteria complexes in urine. The presence or absence of antibody-coated bacteria in urine correlates with localization of urinary tract infection in the kidney or bladder, respectively. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antibody combining site | <immunology> In immune network theory, an idiotope, an antigenic site of an antibody that is responsible for that antibody binding to an antigenic determinant (epitope). Also used of the site on a ligand molecule to which a cell surface receptor binds. (18 Nov 1997) |
| antibody deficiency disease | <syndrome> Any of a group of disorders associated with a defective antibody production due to defects in the B-type lymphocyte system or in T-type lymphocytes; chief manifestation is an increased susceptibility to infection by various microorganisms. See: agammaglobulinaemia, hypogammaglobulinaemia, immunodeficiency. Synonym: antibody deficiency disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antibody deficiency syndrome | <syndrome> Any of a group of disorders associated with a defective antibody production due to defects in the B-type lymphocyte system or in T-type lymphocytes; chief manifestation is an increased susceptibility to infection by various microorganisms. See: agammaglobulinaemia, hypogammaglobulinaemia, immunodeficiency. Synonym: antibody deficiency disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity | The phenomenon of antibody-mediated target cell destruction by non-sensitised effector cells. The identity of the target cell varies, but it must possess surface IgG whose fc portion is intact. The effector cell is a "killer" cell possessing fc receptors. It may be a lymphocyte lacking conventional b- or T-cell markers, or a monocyte, macrophage, or polynuclear leukocyte, depending on the identity of the target cell. The reaction is complement-independent. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antibody-dependent enhancement | Enhancement of viral infectivity caused by non-neutralizing antibodies. There are at least two mechanisms known to account for this: mediation by fc receptors (receptors, fc) or by complement receptors (receptors, complement). Either the virus is complexed with antiviral IgG and binds to fc receptors, or virus is coated with antiviral IgM and binds to complement receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Antibody Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy | <pharmacology> A method for targeting a drug to a specific tissue, in which the targeting agent and the drug are administered separately. The drug is designed to be inactive (a prodrug) until it is converted by an enzyme, which is the targeting agent. The enzyme is coupled to an antibody that directs it to the tissue of interest. When the enzyme arrives at the tissue, the prodrug is activated only at that site, sparing other tissues from potentially toxic side effects. Acronym: ADEPT (14 Nov 1997) |
| antibody diversity | The phenomenon of immense variability characteristic of antibodies, which enables the immune system to react specifically against the essentially unlimited kinds of antigens it encounters. Antibody diversity is accounted for by three main theories: 1) the germ line theory, which holds that each antibody-producing cell has genes coding for all possible antibody specificities, but expresses only the one stimulated by antigen; 2) the somatic mutation theory, which holds that antibody-producing cells contain only a few genes, which produce antibody diversity by mutation; and 3) the gene rearrangement theory, which holds that antibody diversity is generated by the rearrangement of variable region gene segments during the differentiation of the antibody-producing cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antibody excess | In a precipitation test, the presence of antibody in an amount greater than that required to combine with all of the antigen present. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antibody-forming cell | <immunology> B-cells (plasma cells) that are dedicated to producing secreted antibodies. (09 Feb 1998) |
| antibody induced lysis | <haematology> The term is imprecise and should not be used since there is confusion as to which mechanism is involved, i.e. Natural killing or complement lysis. See: complement lysis, natural killer cells. (09 Feb 1998) |
| antibody producing cell | <immunology> A lymphocyte of the B series synthesising and releasing immunoglobulin. Equivalent to plasmacyte and plasma cell. (18 Nov 1997) |