Section Ii Production of Antibodies

Antibodies are serum immunoglobulins with binding specificity for particular antigens. Although antibodies can be identified in the serum of individuals or patients that have been exposed to particular pathogens, the usual methods for eliciting antibodies involve immunization with purified or partially purified antigen preparations. Antigens used are most commonly proteins or peptides, but carbohydrates, nucleic acids, small organic molecules (haptens) conjugated to appropriate protein carriers, cells, and cell and tissue extracts can also be employed.