1. Antibodies = immune defense and therapeutic breakthrough!

Antibodies (see paragraph below on structure) are a very special class of proteins produced by the body in response to invading pathogens and infectious agents of all sorts. They normally serve the purpose of neutralizing and inactivating bacteria and viruses.

Antibodies are characterized by a high specificity for the target structure they can recognize (= antigen).

Because antibodies are such powerful inhibitors of very specific targets, and are natural proteins, thus totally non toxic, they have recently become extremely efficient and valuable therapeutic agents. Indeed therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are effective drugs, primarily used as inhibitors of disease causing molecules, including those expressed by cancer cells. Antibodies as drugs are an important emerging sector of the pharmaceutical industry.