- antibody
- A protein usually found in the blood, which reacts specifically with a molecule called an antigen, in various immune processes.
- humoral immune system
- The form of immunity using antibodies and complement; sometimes called "antibody-mediated immune system." Contrasts to "cell-mediated immune system," which contains T-cells.
- hyperacute rejection
- A quick and destructive attack by the complement portion of the immune system, which kills organs transplanted from other species within a few minutes to an hour.
- protective proteins
- Proteins on an animal's cells that either a) brush off a complement molecule as it starts to bond to the cell membrane, or b) decompose any complement which does bond to the membrane. The proteins protect us against the attack of our own complement system.
- xenotransplantion
- transplanting organs between species that are not closely related (i.e. pigs to humans).
