What does breast milk neutralize?

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Multiple Choice

What does breast milk neutralize?

Neutralization by a soluble antigen in body fluids is a helpful trick in antibody identification. Some antibodies can be absorbed or “soaked up” by soluble antigens present in secretions like breast milk, saliva, or other mucosal fluids. When that happens, the antibody can no longer bind to the corresponding antigen on red cells in testing, so the reaction disappears or weakens. Breast milk contains soluble forms of the I antigen. If anti-I is present in a serum, adding breast milk provides these soluble I antigens that bind the anti-I, effectively neutralizing it. With the antibody neutralized, it can no longer produce a positive reaction in the cell-based test, which is why anti-I is the antibody best explained by this neutralization effect. For context, other antibodies are neutralized by different secretions (for example, soluble P1 in saliva can absorb anti-P1, and soluble Lewis substances in secretions can absorb anti-Lewis). Chido/Rogers antibodies are not typically neutralized by secretions in the same way.

Neutralization by a soluble antigen in body fluids is a helpful trick in antibody identification. Some antibodies can be absorbed or “soaked up” by soluble antigens present in secretions like breast milk, saliva, or other mucosal fluids. When that happens, the antibody can no longer bind to the corresponding antigen on red cells in testing, so the reaction disappears or weakens.

Breast milk contains soluble forms of the I antigen. If anti-I is present in a serum, adding breast milk provides these soluble I antigens that bind the anti-I, effectively neutralizing it. With the antibody neutralized, it can no longer produce a positive reaction in the cell-based test, which is why anti-I is the antibody best explained by this neutralization effect.

For context, other antibodies are neutralized by different secretions (for example, soluble P1 in saliva can absorb anti-P1, and soluble Lewis substances in secretions can absorb anti-Lewis). Chido/Rogers antibodies are not typically neutralized by secretions in the same way.

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