Neutralizing antibodies are effective at preventing infection or toxicity mediated by pathogens or their toxic products. In fact, nearly all vaccines currently in use function by eliciting neutralizing antibodies. One example is the tetanus vaccine, in which neutralizing antibodies are generated against an inactivated form of the tetanus toxin (i.e., the tetanus toxoid). The most important feature of a neutralizing antibody is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most important feature of a neutralizing antibody is having high affinity for the antigen, meaning that it binds specifically and tightly to the pathogen or its toxin, preventing it from binding to host receptors and causing damage. While other features such as multi-valency, concentration, complement activation, and half-life may contribute to the effectiveness of the antibody, high affinity is the critical requirement for neutralization.

Neutralizing Antibodies Are Effective at Preventing Infection or Toxicity Mediated