Many clinical tests are being done on the basis of specificity of antibodies for antigen and their ability to recognize epitopes, which is a very small portion or portions of antigen. Antibody based assays are epitope-detecting devices and most of them are based upon the quantitative precipitin curve (Fig. 5.7). A.1 Precipitation reactions in fluids: A quantitative precipitation reaction can [...]
An antigen (G. anti-against, genos-genus) is such a macromolecules which, upon introduction into the body, stimulates production of antibodies and react specifically with them. The antigenic macromolecules include almost all proteins, most polysaccharides, nucleoproteins, lipoproteins, glycoproteins, and various small bio-chemicals if they are attached to proteins or polypeptides. Antigens are characterized by two essential properties: (i) The ability to cause [...]
The below mentioned article provides a short note on Antigens:- 1. Definition of Antigens 2. Antigenic Determinants 3. Immunopotency. Definition of Antigens: Substances which can give an immune response when introduced into an animal are called immunogens or antigens. Although most antigens are macromolecular proteins, polysaccharides, synthetic polypeptides and other synthetic polymers may also be immunogenic. Although the characteristics of [...]