What is the difference between antigens and antibodies?
Antigens and antibodies are essentially at war with each other inside most human bodies. Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are Y-shaped molecules found in the blood that fight against foreign substances known as antigens. Antigens are proteins or polysaccharides of bacteria, chemical, or virus that attack the immune system. They can also cause allergic reactions due to dander, food, or pollen. Generally, antigens can also be life-threatening in blood transfusions and organ transplants. For example, if a patient receives a blood transfusion and his or her body treats the new blood as a foreign substance, the antibodies can severely attack the immune system. With organ transplants, the tissue cells of the transplant could be rejected by the immune system. In both examples, this could lead to a major infection or even death.
