When an antigen enters the body, it elicits a response from the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system. The adaptive immune response utilizes B and T lymphocytes to find foreign antigens, neutralize them, and eliminate them from the body. B lymphocytes do this by producing antibodies, or immunoglobulins, that can bind to unwanted antigens and remove them from the system.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG), the most abundant antibody in the system, can be found in blood and extracellular fluid, allowing it to control infections in the body. IgG antibodies can bind a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as their toxic by-products. Binding these toxins will neutralize them and allow the immune system to safely remove them from the body.
