C3b
Encyclopedia
C3b is the larger of two elements formed by the cleavage of complement component 3. C3b covalently bonds
Covalent bond
A covalent bond is a form of chemical bonding that is characterized by the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms. The stable balance of attractive and repulsive forces between atoms when they share electrons is known as covalent bonding....

 to microbial cell surfaces within an organism's body. This leads to the production of surface-bound C3 convertase and thus more C3b components. Bound C3b also aids in opsonization of the microbe by macrophages. Complement receptor 1
Complement receptor 1
Erythrocyte complement receptor 1 is a human gene....

 (CR1) on macrophages allows the engaging of C3b covered microbes. C3b also aids in the clearance of immune complexes
Immune complex
An immune complex is formed from the integral binding of an antibody to a soluble antigen. The bound antigen acting as a specific epitope, bound to an antibody is referred to as a singular immune complex....

 (antigen
Antigen
An antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...

-antibody
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...

).

C3b is cleaved into C3c
C3C
"C3C" is an abbreviation that can stand for:*Cadet Third Class, the rank of a cadet in his or her second year at the United States Air Force Academy*Civilization III: Conquests, an expansion for the computer game Civilization III...

 and C3d.
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