immunoglobulin
immunoglobulin — noun
- immunoglobulinsingular
- immunoglobulinsplural
1. a type of protein made by the immune system that helps the body recognise and at
a type of protein made by the immune system that helps the body recognise and attack viruses, bacteria, and other harmful foreign substances by acting as an antibody
Dr. Okafor tested Wen's immunoglobulin levels after the patient had three infections in two months.
collocation: immunoglobulin level(s)
Nadia's research team is studying how immunoglobulin binds to the outer surface of the flu virus.
how immunoglobulin binds to [pathogen]
After the hepatitis B vaccine, Hana's immune system produced enough immunoglobulin to give her full protection.
Andre's doctor said his low immunoglobulin count explained why he caught every illness that went around the office.
Hospitals keep a supply of immunoglobulin for patients whose bodies cannot make enough antibodies on their own.
- antibody
Almost interchangeable in everyday speech; 'antibody' emphasises the immune function, while 'immunoglobulin' refers to the protein structure itself. In strict usage, all antibodies are immunoglobulins, but some immunoglobulins (e.g. surface Ig on B cells) have roles beyond free-floating antibody activity.
文法句型
immunoglobulin + verb (is/produces/fights)
adjective + immunoglobulin (high/low/normal)
用法筆記
In medical writing the term is often shortened to Ig (capital I, lowercase g). There are five main classes: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM — each has a different job in the immune system. Both immunoglobulin and Ig have plural forms: immunoglobulins and Igs (e.g. 'the five Igs' or 'elevated Igs').