title: The role of secretory antibodies in infection immunity.
abstract: The mucosal secretory immune system provides an important primary defence against disease, as studies of humans with mucosal humoral immunodeficiencies suggest that the absence of secretory immunoglobulin A leads to an increase in mucosal infections. However, the infection risks posed do not seem to provide the evolutionary drive to retain constitutive secretion of often 'hard won' protein, suggesting that secretory antibodies may have some other important function (or functions). This Review examines the evidence that secretory antibodies provide an important defence against infection in specific animal models and explores complementary explanations for the evolution of the secretory immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, VIC 3010 Australia. rastru@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Strugnell
authors.forename: Odilia L C
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Wijburg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory