Inter-molecular forces of non-covalent bond between antigen and antibody is divided into four basic types: Type # 1. Electrostatic Interaction: The force between oppositely charged ionic groups on the two protein side chains is known as electrostatic forces (Fig. 5.2a). The force of attraction (F) is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (d) between the charges. [...]
The following points highlight the top four types of antigen-antibody interaction. The types are: 1. Antibody Affinity 2. Antibody Avidity 3. Cross-Reactivity in Antigen-Antibody Reaction 4. Precipitation Reaction. Type # 1. Antibody Affinity: The strength of the total non-covalent interactions between a single antigen-binding site (idiotope) on an antibody and a single epitope is the affinity of the antibody for [...]
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 [...]