Question

Antitoxin is a special type of
A. Antibody
B. Antigen
C. Disease
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Antitoxin is the substance that is produced by the body in response to the particular type of toxin. It is used to neutralise the specific toxin which can cause disease. They are most affected in neutralising the toxins.

Complete answer:
- Antibody: Antibodies are the proteins or the glycoprotein molecules that are produced by plasma cells which are found in the B-lymphocytes in the body in response to entry of antigens and are enabled to interact specifically with the antigen to destroy them. The antitoxin is an antibody produced by certain plants, animals and bacteria in response to the revelation of the toxins. There are some pathogens which produce toxins and make the individual ill and in response, the lymphocytes produce antitoxin to neutralise the toxins. The B-lymphocytes cell responds to pathogens by producing a huge quantity of antibodies which neutralise the foreign substances.
- Antigen: The antigens are foreign proteins or large polysaccharides which initiate an immune response after entering into the body and are capable of production of specific antibodies from B-lymphocytes and interaction with the antibodies. Antigens are the proteins, polysaccharides and peptides but lipids and nucleic acid become antigen when they unite with polysaccharide or proteins. The antigen may arise within a body or come from the outside environment.
Hence, the correct answer is an ‘A. Antibody’.

Note: The first antitoxin was developed for diphtheria in 1890 by Emil von Behring. The antibody formed in immunization for a given toxin.