Class and subclass selection in parasite-specific antibody responses
Garraud O, Perraut R, Riveau G, Nutman TB.
Trends in parasitology, 2003, 19(7):300-4. (PMID : 12855380)
Antibodies are characteristically induced in many parasitic infection processes. The class and subclass of the antibody response is instrumental because each isotype has a distinct biological function. It is thus crucially important for an infected individual to mount the most appropriate secondary antibody response--that is the response that has the best chance of clearing the infection and/or controlling disease. This represents a fundamental of vaccine strategies. Immuno-epidemiological surveys and in vitro models of antibody production have helped to understand some of the goals which should be achieved when designing antiparasitic vaccines.