Final answer:
Antibodies are specific proteins produced by the immune system's B cells to identify and neutralize foreign antigens, which help fight infections and diseases by marking pathogens for destruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibodies are very specific proteins that stick to antigens and help the body and immune system attack, kill, or remove the antigen. Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, have unique molecular structures designed to match with only one type of antigen. Upon binding, they can neutralize antigens in several ways, including marking pathogens for destruction. The adaptive immune system's B cells are responsible for producing these antibodies in response to recognizing foreign substances, such as bacterial surface proteins.
These Y-shaped proteins are crucial for identifying and eliminating non-self molecules, which are generally classed as antigens. If antigens are identified as non-self, the immune system responds by generating antibodies specific to these antigens, leading to the eventual destruction of cells exhibiting them. This interaction between antibodies and antigens is fundamental to the body's adaptive immune system, which makes tailored attacks against specific pathogens or abnormal cells.