Antibody Response to Antigenic Challenge John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health Antibody Response to an Antigenic Challenge Summary prepared by Sheldon Cohen in collaboration with the Allostatic Load Working Group. Last revised December, 1997. A critical review of the human literature. Physiological Mechanisms d. Antibodies are protein molecules that attach themselves to invading microorganisms and mark them for destruction or prevent them from infecting cells.
Antibodies are antigen specific.
That is antibodies produced in response to antigen exposure are specific to that antigen. It is important to distinguish between primary and secondary response to an antigen challenge. Primary response refers to the first time a persons is exposed to the antigen. Secondary response refers to subsequent exposure. Following a primary antigenic challenge there is an initial lag phase when no antibody can be detected.