Immunology

Antibody

Y-shaped proteins produced by B cells that recognize and bind to specific foreign molecules (antigens). The main effectors of humoral immunity.

Used in the Books

This term appears in 7 chapters:

Foundations From Cells to Companies

"...so export valuable things: signaling molecules, hormones, neurotransmitters. Some cells export their primary products (insulin from pancreatic cells, antibodies from B cells). Again, it's not random. The cell packages certain molecules for export, sends them to the membrane via specific pathways, and ejects ..."

Foundations Natural Selection

"...on's AWS (started as internal infrastructure, became public cloud), Apple's iPhone team (kept separate from iPod division). Protection from corporate antibodies allows mutation. Create a variation roadmap: ``` | Quarter | Variation Mechanism | Target | Expected Output | |---------|-------------------|------..."

Resource Dynamics Caloric Restriction

"...r beneficial (disputed), 100+ mSv/year harmful (cancer risk increases) Vaccines (immune stress): - Attenuated pathogen triggers immune response (antibody production, T-cell memory) - Adaptation: Immune system "remembers" pathogen, responds faster upon reinfection - Dose-response: 1-2 doses beneficial, ..."

Adaptation and Evolution Mutation Rates

"Even mammalian immune systems exhibit this through somatic hypermutation (deliberately error-prone DNA copying in immune cells to create antibody diversity targeting novel pathogens) (Neuberger et al. 2003). Mutation Rate Variation Across Species: Evolutionary Strategies Mutation rates va..."

Adaptation and Evolution Coevolution and Arms Races

"...idly, generating antigenic variation - changing their surface proteins to avoid immune recognition. Hosts evolve immune receptors (MHC molecules, antibodies) that recognize pathogen antigens. Pathogens counter by evolving new antigenic variants; hosts respond by evolving broader immune repertoires. This ..."

And 2 more chapters...

Biological Context

Each antibody recognizes one specific antigen shape. Binding can neutralize pathogens, mark them for destruction, or activate complement. The body can produce millions of different antibodies. Vaccination works by triggering antibody production against specific pathogens.

Business Application

Organizational antibodies: specific defenses against known threats—contracts for specific vendors, policies for specific risks, protocols for specific scenarios. They bind to and neutralize threats they're designed for.

Related Terms

Tags

immunologyproteinsdefense