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Microbiology Immunology 073c964f

Of the five immunoglobulin classes, IgA is the main immunoglobulin of secretions from the genital, respiratory, and intestinal tracts. As a result, IgA antibody is the first line of defense against infections at the mucous membrane. It is usually an early specific antibody. Which of the following statements most accurately describes IgA?

A
Complement fixation tests for IgA antibody will be positive if specific IgA antibody is present
B
IgA can be destroyed by bacterial proteases
C
IgA is absent in colostrum
D
IgA is not found in saliva; therefore, an IgA diagnostic test on saliva would have no value
High-Yield Explanation
Each secretory IgA molecule has a molecular weight of 400,000 and consists of two H2L2 units and one molecule each of J chain and secretory component. Some IgA exists in serum as a monomer H2L2 with a molecular weight of 160,000. Some bacteria, such as Neisseria, can destroy IgA-1 by producing protease. It is the major immunoglobulin in milk, saliva, tears, mucus, sweat, gastric fluid, and colostrum. IgA does not fix complement, so one would anticipate that a complement fixation test would not be useful for IgA antibody. It is important to remember that of the five classes of immunoglobulins, only IgG and IgM are complement-fixing/activating anti bodies.

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