What do antibodies do to pathogens?

What do antibodies do to pathogens?

• A. They directly kill pathogens
• B. They form a barrier around pathogens
• C. Bind to antigens on pathogens to disable and clump them together ready for phagocytosis
• D. They dissolve toxins

Answer: (C)

Antibodies work by recognizing specific features (antigens) on pathogens and binding to them. This binding can neutralize the invader by blocking its ability to attach to host cells and by neutralizing toxins it may produce. It also causes pathogens to clump together (agglutination), which makes it easier for immune cells to spot and ingest them in a process called phagocytosis. Antibodies don’t usually kill pathogens directly or create a physical barrier around them, and they neutralize toxins by binding to them rather than dissolving them.

Antibodies work by recognizing specific features (antigens) on pathogens and binding to them. This binding can neutralize the invader by blocking its ability to attach to host cells and by neutralizing toxins it may produce. It also causes pathogens to clump together (agglutination), which makes it easier for immune cells to spot and ingest them in a process called phagocytosis. Antibodies don’t usually kill pathogens directly or create a physical barrier around them, and they neutralize toxins by binding to them rather than dissolving them.