Antibody Basics Guides

Learn the essentials of antibody structure, production, immune function and research applications

Antibodies, also called immunoglobulins (Ig), are Y-shaped proteins produced by the immune system to recognize and bind to foreign substances or organisms such as bacteria. Binding to these substances neutralizes the invaders or recruits other components of the immune system to destroy them.

Their highly specific binding properties also make antibodies useful to biologists. Antibodies are routinely used in a wide variety of biochemical techniques, including western blots, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation, where they recognize molecules of interest for isolation or visualization.

The guides below provide a comprehensive introduction to the essentials of antibodies to enable life science researchers to choose and use the right antibodies with confidence.

Antibodies in the Immune System

Learn about antibody production by plasma B cells of the immune system, and how antibodies recognize and bind to unique antigens on pathogens.

Antibody Structure, Isotypes and Formats

Explore how antibody structure and isotype contribute to their function and use in research, and the application of antibody formats such as fab fragments and nanobodies.

Antibody Applications and Validation

An overview of antibody applications, such as ELISA and western blot, and how to validate antibody specificity by knockout, protein array and biophysical techniques.

Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibodies: Production and Purification

Learn about polyclonal, monoclonal and recombinant antibodies, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and which is best suited to your application.

How to Choose and Use an Antibody

Choose the ideal antibody for your research needs with confidence. A comprehensive guide to the factors that influence antibody choice, use and storage.

How to Choose a Secondary Antibody

Selection guide for how to choose the ideal secondary antibody for your research. Understand important considerations such as conjugates and cross-adsorption.

Glossary

Find definitions of key words relating to antibodies