antibody
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antibody
A protein produced by the immune system that specifically recognizes pathogens such as viruses or bacteria and helps fight them.
Nach einer durchgemachten Infektion hat man oft Antikörper im Blut.
After having gone through an infection, you often have antibodies in your blood.
The word is made up of the prefix 'Anti-' (Greek for 'against') and 'Körper' (body). So an 'Antikörper' (antibody) is literally something that acts 'against' foreign bodies (such as viruses) in your own body.
Das Immunsystem bildet Antikörper, um Infektionen zu bekämpfen.
The immune system forms antibodies to fight infections.
Certain verbs are often used in connection with 'Antikörper' (antibody). The body can 'bilden' (form) or 'produzieren' (produce) antibodies, a person can 'haben' (have) antibodies, and a test can 'nachweisen' (detect) them.
Der Test hat gezeigt, dass ich keine Antikörper habe.
The test showed that I don't have any antibodies.
Although 'Antikörper' (antibody) is a technical term from medicine, it is used very frequently in everyday language, especially when talking about illnesses, vaccinations, and the immune system.
In den Nachrichten wurde über die Entwicklung von Antikörpern berichtet.
The news reported on the development of antibodies.
antibiotic
'das Antibiotikum' and 'der Antikörper' both have to do with fighting pathogens, but they are not the same thing. An antibiotic is a medication that you receive for bacterial infections. An antibody is a substance that the immune system produces itself in order to recognize and fight pathogens. Learners may confuse the words because of 'Anti-' and because of the medical context. The important point is: you take an antibiotic; the body produces antibodies.
Im Bluttest konnte das Labor Antikörper gegen den Erreger nachweisen.
In the blood test, the lab was able to detect antibodies against the pathogen.
Nach der Untersuchung verschrieb die Ärztin ein Antibiotikum gegen die Infektion.
After the examination, the doctor prescribed an antibiotic for the infection.