Institute of Immunity, Infection, and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Immunology. 2021 Apr;162(4):339-340. doi: 10.1111/imm.13324.
Antibodies are a key element of the immune response. They can bind their molecular targets with exquisite sensitivity and specificity, providing protection against a multitude of pathogens. They have long been understood to be markers of a successful response to vaccination, and are now widely manufactured as highly specific and robust immunotherapeutic agents. Less well understood are the polyreactive antibodies, found in serum, which are able to bind more than one target molecule. Here, we highlight new research into these naturally occurring polyreactive antibodies, which demonstrates their importance for protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common cause of airway infection.
抗体是免疫反应的关键要素。它们可以极其敏感和特异地结合其分子靶标，为人体提供针对多种病原体的保护。长期以来，人们一直认为抗体是疫苗接种成功的标志，现在它们已被广泛制造为高度特异性和稳健的免疫治疗剂。而人们对血清中存在的多反应性抗体了解较少，这些抗体能够结合不止一个靶标分子。在这里，我们重点介绍了针对这些天然存在的多反应性抗体的新研究，这些研究表明它们对于预防常见的呼吸道感染病原体——肺炎链球菌具有重要意义。
