ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Abzyme

Do you remember our body's "army" called antibodies? They help us fight off bad germs and viruses that make us sick. But what if I told you that there are some antibodies that don't just recognize the bad guys but can also break them down and destroy them? These are called Abzymes, which stands for Antibody Enzymes.

Think of it this way, if antibodies are like soldiers with guns trying to shoot the bad guys, Abzymes are like soldiers that have some special skills that can not only identify the bad guys but can also tear them apart with their bare hands!

Abzymes are created when our bodies make antibodies that have the ability to work like an enzyme. Enzymes are like tiny machines in our body that can help break down and transform things. For example, enzymes in our stomachs help break down the food we eat so that it can be digested properly.

Now imagine that a soldier could turn into a tiny machine that could break down and eliminate the bad guys - that's basically an Abzyme!

Scientists have been studying Abzymes for many years hoping to use them to treat different diseases. One thing that makes Abzymes special is that they are highly specific. This means that they can recognize and target very specific molecules. This makes them potentially useful in targeting cancer cells, for example.

So, Abzymes are really amazing antibodies that have a special skill to work like tiny machines and break down certain molecules or cells. They can help our body fight the bad guys and might even one day be used to fight diseases.