Biology / Unit 13 Bio 3305 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Hypersensitivity and Allergy Mechanism
Captions available
The idea
An allergic reaction is a hypersensitivity response in which the allergy-linked antibody class, per Bio 3285, reacts strongly to a normally harmless antigen.
In practice
Mast cells coated with this antibody release histamine on re-exposure, producing allergic symptoms.
Where people slip
The damage comes from the immune response itself, not from the allergen, which is harmless to almost everyone else.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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