The immune system is an elegant system of defense against foreign invaders.  It is able to successfully recognize and distinguish between thousands of different antigens.  How is such complete recognition possible considering all the various structures foreign bodies may possess?  How does the body produce antibodies specific enough to counter so many different pathogens?  That is the subject of the recent research article, “Structural Insights into the Evolution of an Antibody Combining Site” (published in the June 13, 1997 issue of Science magazine) by Gary J. Wedemayer, Phillip A. Patten, Leo H. Wang, Peter G. Schultz, and Raymond C. Stevens.

     This website is dedicated to exploring and explaining (in lay terms), the research presented within this paper.  To continue with the exploration, click on the forward arrow at the bottom of this page.  To go to any point in the site instantly, click on the links at the bottom of the page.  To return to the BLC homepage click on the backward arrow at the bottom of this page or on the link “BLC” at the bottom of the page.  Words in orange represent glossary terms which may be looked up by clicking on the “Glossary” link at the bottom of the page.  Words in yellow represent links to other pages within this site, while words in bright blue represent external links.