File talk:Rubella serology.png

This is my first attempt at communicating through Wikipedia so I will apologize in advance if there is a more appropriate way to ask this question.

Can you please explain the items plotted in your graph. What does lgG, lgM, and E2lgG stand for?

Stephen 3/16/08

Hi Stephen, this is the right place. IgG and IgM are two sorts of antibodies which are produced by white blood cells called lymphocytes. Antibodies are important in immunity. Antibodies kill or help to kill viruses, bacteria and destroy toxins. Shortly after an infection IgM antibody is made which is very efficient at this, but it is "expensive" for the lymphocytes to produce. Later the "cheaper" IgG is all that is needed for protection. IgG stands for Immunoglobulin G and IgM, Immunoglobulin M. Antibodies are made from protein and each antibody only targets one type of molecule on the virus, bacterium or toxin. This targeted molecule is called an antigen because it generates the production of antibodies, (confusing I know). The E21IgG means that it is IgG antibody that reacts with the E2 antigen on the rubella virus.

Best wishes --Graham Colm Talk 16:08, 16 March 2008 (UTC)