Antibodies in the brain

User rating: 4.7 / 5 after 15 vote(s)

Antibody development: A B-cellacutes recognition of a target structure quickly leads to the production of numerous antibodies ready to attack this target. Memory cells ensure a quick response in case the target reappears at a later time. B-cells whic ...
Antibody development: A B-cell's recognition of a target structure quickly leads to the production of numerous antibodies ready to attack this target. Memory cells ensure a quick response in case the target reappears at a later time. B-cells which don’t recognize the target (here the cells 1 and n), don’t produce antibodies. Image: Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology

Each of us carries an unbelievable multitude of antibodies, allowing us to survive the daily battle against pathogens. However, sometimes these antibodies go haywire and attack structures of their own body, for example nerve cells in patients with multiple sclerosis. The origin of these antibodies remained long unknown.


Full story »

All News summaries from Medicine & Health news
All News summaries for May 19, 2008

Cholera outbreak kills 20 in northern Nigeria

6 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
A cholera outbreak has claimed 20 lives in northern Nigeria's Kano state in the last week, officials and residents said Saturday.

US controls bird flu vaccines over bioweapon fears

6 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- When Indonesia's health minister stopped sending bird flu viruses to a research laboratory in the U.S. for fear Washington could use them to make biological weapons, Defense Secretary Robert Gates ...

Limit on cold remedies for kids was FDA's idea

7 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- When drug makers made a surprise announcement this week that they no longer recommend cough and cold remedies for youngsters under 4, they didn't let on that it was the government's idea.

Just a numbers game? Making sense of health statistics

Oct 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Presidential candidates use them to persuade voters, drug companies use them to sell their products, and the media spin them in all kinds of ways, but nobody - candidates, reporters, let alone health consumers - understands ...

Statins may prevent miscarriages

Oct 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Hospital for Special Surgery researchers have found that statins may be able to prevent miscarriages in women who are suffering from pregnancy complications caused by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), according to a study ...