That Recognize Antigen

Particles are most efficiently phagocytized when they are opsonized with complement components or immunoglobulins. This is accomplished by incubating the particles with autologous or normal human pooled serum, or with specific antibodies that recognize antigens on the particle surface. 

Note that the mechanism proposed for helper T-cell function requires that T cells have surface receptors that recognize antigen-processing cells, antigen itself, and the appropriate B cell. We will shortly discuss the nature of T-cell receptors, as well as the surface structures they recognize, in a broader context. 

It is clear that generated by such a random process the initial repertoire of antigen specifity in all individuals of human beings should be quite similar. This implies that initially in each individal there develop lymphocytes which recognize antigens of this very individual, i.e. autoantigens. 

Monoclonal antibodies (mAh) are molecules that recognize and bind a specific foreign substance called an antigen. They are produced from a single clone of B lymphocytes. Conventionally, mouse mAh have been generated for experimental and diagnostic use. Techniques have been developed to humanize mouse mAh to facilitate their therapeutic use in humans. It is also now possible to make mAh which are fully human. 

Antibodies are highly specific, binding only to a restricted part of a given antigen known as an epitope. Given the billions of antibody specificities that may be produced by the immune system, an antibody that recognizes an epitope on virtually any molecule may be produced. It is this property that makes antibodies immensely powerful tools for experimental, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 

LPS Lipopolysaccharide L-selectin Leucocte selectin, formerly knovm as monoclonal antibody that recognizes murine L-selectin (MEL-14 antigen), leucocyte cell adhesion molecule-1 (LeuCAM-1), lectin cell adhesion molecule-1 (LeCAM-1 or LecCAM-1), leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1)... 

Lymphocytes are responsible for the specificity of the immune response. They are the only immune cells that recognize and respond to specific antigens, due to the presence on... 

De Guise, S. et al., Characterization of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a lymphocyte surface antigen for the cetacean homologue to CD45R, Immunology, 94, 207, 1998. 

---