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what is the difference in A and B antigens/antibodies?
if they do the same thing in identifying threats, why and how are they any different? if they were different, wouldn't one blood type be inferior at fighting infection?
3 Answers
- Anonymous2 years ago
The A and B antigens on erythrocytes (red blood cells) are not involved in the immune system. They are not their to deal with invading microorganisms. Some people have the A antigen and have blood group A, some have antigen B and have blood group B, some have both and have blood group AB, and some have neither and have blood group O.
The antibodies to the A and B antigens develop early in life due to exposure to environmental substances, including bacteria and viruses.
- Diane ALv 72 years ago
Blood type antigens are sugar moieties on the red cell, they develop early, the antibodies naturally occurring. They have nothing to do with being antibodies to various invaders like viruses, bacteria etc. The abs are to the agents on the red cell, only. Why, no one really knows why there are blood groups, there just are, and animals have them too.
- Anonymous2 years ago
An antibody is a protein that is secreted by an immune cell in response to a stimulus (the antigen) to neutralize these foreign objects e.g. bacteria, viruses.
Antigens are anything that can stimulate an immune response in your body. They are usually described as anything that your body recognizes as foreign, or not belonging to you.It is frequently but not always a protein. The binding of antibody to antigen is very specific, so only a particular antibody can binds to its corresponding antigen.
