1. Antibodies Structure and Variability James Hebda 9/30/11

2. Our Adaptive Immune System Observations: – Our body can fight off many bacteria and viruses – We get sick before we get better – Vaccines can prevent us from getting sick

3. Remember White Blood Cells help fight infection – Key tool is the Antibody Antibodies specifically bind to target ligands – Ligand of antibody called Antigen – High affinity and specificity mean many non-covalent bonds – Determined by side-chain order (primary structure) We are familiar with Beta-sheets and Loops

4. Antibody Sturcture