The Natural Development of Antibodies as a Defense Strategy Utilized by the Human Immune System Against Viral Infections

Beyond COVID

The Natural Development of Antibodies by the Human Immune System 

Presence of COVID Antibodies

How exposure to a virus results in the development of antibodies as a defense response mechanism by the human immune system. 

Antibodies develop naturally in the human body through exposure of foreign entities such as viruses (SARS-COV2). The presence of antibodies help protect the human body from fighting of viral infections (such as COVID) by identifying them when they first enter the body, and block them from attaching to healthy cells. 

An antibody is a protective entity that is created by the human immune system due to the presence of a foreign substance referred to as an antigen. The antibody recognizes and attaches itself to the antigen and then proceeds to attempt to remove it from the body. 

When a foreign substance is able to enter the body, the first thing that occurs is that the immune system recognizes it as a foreign entity. The surface layer of antigens have molecules that are different from those found in the body, which allow the immune system to verify its uniqueness.  

To eliminate the invader, the immune system calls on a number of mechanisms, including one of the most important—antibody production. Antibodies are produced by specialized white blood cells called B lymphocytes (or B cells). When an antigen binds to the B-cell surface, it stimulates the B cell to divide and mature into a group of identical cells called a clone. The mature B cells, called plasma cells, secrete millions of antibodies into the bloodstream and the lymphatic system. 

Once the immune system has initiated a response to the invasion, the production of antibodies goes into overdrive producing millions at a time. The cardiovascular system circulates them via the bloodstream throughout the body. As the antibodies circulate utilizing the bloodstream, they attack and neutralize antigens that are identical to the one (alien) that triggered the immune response. The antibody first binds to the antigen in order to initiate the attack. Binding to the toxin (such as a virus (COVID)) can neutralize the poison simply by changing its chemical composition, these antibodies are called antitoxins. 

Once the antibodies attach themselves to the invading virus, multiple features of the immune system can be initiated to further eliminate the virus from attacking the body. The invading microorganisms can become inactive and will no longer be able to attach and invade the human healthy cells. 

At this point the initial attack of the immune system has resulted in a a series of responses primarily that regarding antibody production. The ongoing production of antibodies continues for several days until all the antigen molecules of the targeted virus (COVID) are removed. Antibodies remain in circulation for several months, providing extended immunity against that particular antigen.

Therefore, the presence of these antibodies within the human body such as those provided by the exposure of COVID, will attack the virus, and will help the body recover. In addition the ongoing presence of COVID antibodies within the body will protect the body from being infected again from the virus, similar to a vaccine.