Antibody-catalyzed water oxidation: state-of-the-art immunity or ancient history?

Recent studies have exposed a novel and unexpected antibody effector activity against microbes. Antibodies might facilitate ‘oxidation of water’, resulting in the production of antimicrobial compounds through a putative conserved catalytic site at the antibody heavy- and light-chain interface. This oxidative effector mechanism could represent an ancient mechanism targeting the destruction of pathogens.