Immune Effector Functions
Immune Effector Functions - Related Videos
08:39
Electroporation of Functional Bacterial Effectors into Mammalian Cells
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Cited by 7 •
2015
Electroporation was used to insert purified bacterial virulence effector proteins directly into living eukaryotic cells. Protein localization was monitored by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. This method allows for studies on trafficking, function, and protein-protein interactions using active exogenous proteins, avoiding the need for heterologous expression in eukaryotic cells.
11:30
Unravelling the Function of a Bacterial Effector from a Non-cultivable Plant Pathogen Using a Yeast Two-hybrid Screen
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Cited by 8 •
2017
Bacterial effector proteins are important for establishing successful infections. This protocol describes the experimental identification of proteinaceous binding partners of a bacterial effector protein in its natural plant host. Identifying these effector interactions via yeast two-hybrid screens has become an important tool in unravelling molecular pathogenicity strategies.
03:03
Measuring the Activation of Fc-Mediated Effector Functions by HA Antibodies
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2025
This video demonstrates an assay measuring the antibody-mediated activation of T cell effector functions. Adding an influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA)-specific monoclonal antibody to transfected mammalian cells expressing HA results in the formation of immune complexes with HA. Upon introducing engineered T cells expressing Fc receptors and a luciferase reporter, the T cells are activated by the antibody-HA complexes, and this activation is detected by adding a luciferase substrate and...
04:47
A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies
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Cited by 6 •
2018
We describe a method to measure the activation of Fc-mediated effector functions by antibodies that target the influenza virus hemagglutinin. This assay can also be adapted to assess the ability of monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal sera targeting other viral surface glycoproteins to induce Fc-mediated immunity.
07:26
Isolation of Functional Cardiac Immune Cells
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Cited by 9 •
2011
This method for isolating functional immune cells from the heart provides an alternative to the conventional methods of collagenase digestion, which causes unwanted immune cell activation, resulting in a decreased responsiveness of these cells. Our method of isolation yields functional cardiac immune cells by avoiding problems associated with enzymatic digestion.
FAQs
Antigen recognition acts as the initiating signal that activates immune cells or soluble mediators. This activation directs specific responses, including antibody-mediated neutralization or opsonization, complement activation, phagocytosis, and cytotoxic lymphocyte activity. The resulting coordination allows immune defenses to contain threats while linking recognition with inflammation, tissue protection, and the development of immune memory.
Neutralization limits a threat by using antibodies to interfere with its harmful activity, whereas opsonization marks the target for more effective immune handling. These are distinct antibody-driven effector functions that can contribute to pathogen elimination through different routes. Their separation helps explain how adaptive immune recognition supports both direct blocking and coordinated removal of threats.
Complement activation and phagocytosis contribute to containing and eliminating threats through coordinated soluble and cellular responses. Cytotoxic lymphocytes provide targeted killing of infected cells and other cells recognized as threats. Together, these mechanisms show how immune effector functions can act against pathogens themselves, remove compromised cells, and combine innate and adaptive contributions.
Effector activities do more than eliminate threats: they also shape inflammation and help determine whether surrounding tissues are protected during an immune response. Their effects contribute to the broader organization of immunity and can support immune memory. This connection is important because effective defense requires both threat control and regulation of its consequences for tissues.
In infection research, these functions help explain how the immune system contains and eliminates pathogens or infected cells. In vaccination research, they provide a framework for examining how antigen recognition leads to protective responses and memory. Studying both outcomes connects immediate immune activity with longer-lasting protection against future threats.
The same activities that protect the body can become clinically important when they are excessive, insufficient, or directed toward inappropriate targets. Immune effector functions therefore provide a basis for studying harmful activity in autoimmunity, weakened defense in immunodeficiency, and immune responses involving cancer. This framework helps distinguish protective immunity from damaging or inadequate responses.
Therapeutic research can use knowledge of these functions to enhance protective immune responses or limit harmful immune activity. Relevant targets include antibody neutralization and opsonization, complement activation, phagocytosis, and cytotoxic lymphocyte killing. Understanding how these activities coordinate allows investigators to connect a treatment strategy with its intended effect on pathogens, infected cells, tissues, or immune regulation.