Mechanisms of antibody affinity maturation in fishes

基因突变通常被认为是动物疾病的原因之一。我们的身体甚至寻找并尝试纠正突变。然而，在一种情况下，为了对抗疾病，鼓励发生突变。这只发生在B细胞中，B细胞是分泌抗体的免疫系统细胞。抗体识别并帮助清除入侵的细菌和病毒。在B细胞中，突变针对抗体基因，试图提高抗体识别和结合病原体的能力。事实上，我们接种疫苗的部分原因是让身体有机会突变抗体基因，这样当实际感染发生时，我们的抗体可以迅速识别感染并清除它。

Mutation of genes is usually viewed as a cause of disease in animals. Our bodies even look for, and try to correct mutations. However in one instance mutations are encouraged to occur in a bid to combat disease. This happens only in B-cells, which are immune system cells that secrete antibodies. Antibodies recognize and help eliminate invading bacteria and viruses. In B-cells, mutations are directed against the antibody genes in an attempt to improve the ability of the antibodies to recognize and bind pathogens. In fact, part of the reason we vaccinate, is to give the body a chance to mutate the antibody genes so that when an actual infection occurs, our antibodies can quickly recognize the infection and clear it.