An antigen is a substance which stimulates an immune response. When exposed to an antigen, the body views it as foreign material, and takes steps to neutralize it. Typically, the body accomplishes this by making antibodies, which are intended to defend the body from invasion by potentially dan...
Understand what an antigen is by learning the antigen definition. Also, discover where antigens are found and learn how the immune system responds to antigens. Related to this Question (a) What are antigens? (b) What are Antibodies (Immunoglobulins)?
Valency, a term describing the number of antigen-binding sites on a single antibody molecule, is another important variable. While IgG, IgD, and IgE are bivalent, IgA has a valency of 4, and IgM has a valency of 10. Learn more about immunoglobulin isotypes Polyclonal and monoclonal ...
Tolerance against self-antigens is a highly regulated process and, in order to maintain it, the immune system must be able to distinguish self-reactive lymphocytes as they develop. The presence of autoantibodies is the consequence of breakdown of tolerance and, although they are an important ...
Tolerance against self-antigens is a highly regulated process and, in order to maintain it, the immune system must be able to distinguish self-reactive lymphocytes as they develop. The presence of autoantibodies is the consequence of breakdown of tolerance and, although they are an important ...
The methodology used for an antibody assay can vary, depending on the technique used. In all cases, the sample is taken and mixed with a material containing an antigen. If the sample contains reactive antibodies, the antigen will bind to them. Another substance bound to the antigen is designe...
An antibody is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. Each antibody recognizes a specific antigen unique to its target. This is because at the two tips of its "Y", it has structures akin to locks. Every lock...
In an immune response, which type of cells secrete antibodies? (a) Macrophages (b) Cytotoxic T-cells (c) Plasma cells (d) Helper T-cells. What name is given to a substance that is recognized by the body as foreign and norma...
Antibodies are produced byB cells, also calledB lymphocytes, which are made in bone marrow and found in the blood and lymph. Antibodies have a distinctiveYshape, which is key to how they work. At the tips ofantibodiesare the unique sites where they bind with a matching site on antigens—...
Published: 12 August 2011 doi:10.1186/2045-7022-1-S1-S2 Cite this article as: Mills: What makes an antigen a food allergen? Clinical and Translational Allergy 2011 1(Suppl 1):S2. Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK Full list of author information is available at the end of the ...