In a first, scientists have produced human antibodies in the laboratory using a technique that could usher the rapid development of new vaccines to treat a wide range of infectious diseases.<br/><br/>Antibodies are produced by the body's B cells to fight off infections by bacteria, viruses, and other invasive pathogens.<br/><br/>Researchers, including those from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, wanted to replicate this process in the laboratory to produce specific antibodies from B cells isolated from patient blood samples.<br/>The research was published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.