Blocking antibody

Imagine your body is like a house and there are bad guys (also called pathogens) outside who want to come in and make you sick. Your immune system is like a security guard that tries to stop these bad guys from entering your house.

Now, one way your immune system stops these bad guys is by making antibodies. Think of antibodies like keys that fit into a lock on the bad guy's front door. Once the key fits in the lock, it changes it so they can't open the door and get inside your house.

Sometimes, your immune system might not make enough antibodies to stop the bad guys from getting inside. That's where blocking antibodies come in. These are special antibodies that block the lock on the bad guy's front door so they can never get inside your house.

Scientists can make blocking antibodies in a lab and use them to help people who are sick. They usually make them for specific diseases, like COVID-19. So, if you get COVID-19, doctors can give you a blocking antibody that will lock the virus out of your cells and help you get better.