Avian IgY antibodies and its immunotherapeutic applications

Abstract

Antibodies, also called immunoglobulins, are specialized proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of pathogens or foreign substances in the body. These unique proteins are commonly used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes because they easily bind to antigenic molecules. Polyclonal antibody production currently involves the use of laboratory animals such as rats, rabbits, sheep, goats, and horses. However, the manufacture of these antibodies generally involves practices that cause pain to animals, such as prolonged bloodletting. In recent years, isolating antibodies from egg yolk following hyperimmunization of chickens has emerged as a popular approach for producing significant amounts of antibodies. This approach combines the principles of natural passive immunity and artificial passive immunity. To ensure a continuous accumulation of antibodies in egg yolks, chickens are regularly immunized with specific antigens. Egg yolk antibodies, known as IgY, are extracted and used for immunotherapy and immunodiagnostic purposes in human and animal applications due to their promising antibacterial properties. The antibacterial properties of egg yolk antibodies have been a significant focus in IgY studies. Several reports have shown that IgY helps prevent bacterial transmission or infection in vivo. The production of IgY against mammalian antigens has a higher success rate than IgG production. This is because of the phylogenetic difference between mammals and chickens. Furthermore, these antibodies have a more comprehensive range of antigenic epitope recognition and can respond to more than one species, making them more versatile. This study compiles information on the properties, mechanisms of action, and uses of egg yolk antibodies based on existing literature on IgY technology.