If you were to design a vaccine to prevent infection with a mucosal pathogen, such as Vibrio cholerae, which antibody class do you think would be most effective in preventing the colonization in the intestinal tract?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

IgA is the predominant antibody class found in the mucosal secretions, including the intestinal tract. It plays a critical role in preventing the colonization of mucosal pathogens by blocking their attachment to mucosal surfaces, neutralizing the toxins produced by these pathogens, and promoting their clearance from the mucosal membranes. Therefore, the development of a vaccine that induces high levels of mucosal IgA antibodies would be effective in preventing infections with mucosal pathogens like Vibrio cholerae.

If You Were to Design a Vaccine to Prevent Infection