Figure 2.

Structure of IgY compared to the IgG of different species. Avian IgY differs from mammalian IgG in that it has four constant domains and lacks a hinge region, which gives it high specificity. The Fc of IgY presents greater resistance to proteolytic degradation, does not bind to rheumatoid factor, and does not activate the human complement. Some reports suggest that IgY can increase the phagocytosis of specific pathogens, which could favor their elimination, but it is also possible that it promotes the infection of cells involved in the immune response, favoring their maintenance [13]. Therefore, more clinical studies are required to validate the safety and effectiveness of IgY in humans. Created with BioRender.com (accessed on 8 August 2022).