Infectious Diseases and HIV Conference

Antibodies are immunoglobulins that are specific proteins secreted by B cells during immune responses. These proteins facilitate the normal functioning of the immune system; thus, they identify the invading pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins, and neutralize them.

Therefore, this lecture will be devoted to explaining how an antibody is designed, its role in the immune response, and its use in vaccines and in diagnostic reagents. Antibodies are Y-shaped molecules made up of two heavy and two light chains, which combine to create a variable region for great specificity towards antigens.

The five primary classes of antibodies and their specific functions along with localization within the body will be covered in the lecture, namely, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD. Using that knowledge, participants will understand how diversity in antibodies enables an immune system to recognize the enormous number of pathogens and how, over time, mechanisms such as somatic hyper mutation and class switching create antibodies.

Production of antibodies is the fundamental mechanism of the adaptive immune response. This lecture will illustrate the processes from the activation of B cells following antigens recognition to the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells, which produce antibodies.

Lecturers will explain how antibodies neutralize pathogens, including inhibition of entry of viruses into host cells; opsonization and facilitation of phagocytosis; and activation of the complement system for lists of pathogens. Antibodies in vaccine-induced immunity play an important role. This lecture shall focus on vaccines, how they stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies for specific pathogens.

Participants shall examine case studies, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and influenza vaccine, so participants can better understand the role of antibodies in preventing such diseases. It will further describe the effect of antibody levels on the effectiveness of a vaccine and herd immunity. Apart from the role that antibodies play in immune responses, it is quite versatile and has wide application in diagnostics and therapeutics.

The use of antibodies as a tool for diagnosing infections and diseases of interest will be discussed in this session-one of these areas of interest is through the use of rapid antibody tests for COVID-19.

The participants will be educated on how to use therapeutic antibodies, including monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of diseases like autoimmune conditions, cancer, infections.

Future directions in the field of antibody research will conclude with relevant advances in discovery and engineering technologies for antibodies. Attendees will discuss whether specific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and new delivery approaches might more effectively treat more patients. Above all, the progress of our knowledge of antibodies is the continued pursuit of discovery and collaboration.