Antigen

Molecules that can be recognized by the Immunoglobulin receptors of B cells or by the T-cell receptors when complexed with MHC are called Antigen.

Antigenicity Vs Immunogenecity
Immunogenicity-Ability of an antigen to elicit an immune reaction in the form of a B-cell or T cell response. B-cell + antigen Effector B-cells+ Memory B cells Plasma cells
Antibody Antigenecity Ability to combine specifically with the final products of the immune response(i.e.,antibodies and/or cell surface receptors). All Antigens are not Immunogen but all Immunogens are Antigen

Types of Antigen

Antigen
Complete Antigen
(Immunogen) Incomplete Antigen (Hapten) Heterophile Antigen(Forssman Ag)

Determinants of Antigenecity
Molecular Size- High molecular weight proteins are highly antigenic. Foreignness- The more distantly related two species, greater is the immunogenecity. Chemical structure complexity- Structural complexity of a protein contributes to its immunogenecity. Stability- Highly stable & non- degradable substances are not immunogenic. Biological system. Doses and route of Antigen. Adjuvents

Antigenic Specificity
Epitopes- B-cell & T-cell epitopes. Species specificity. Isospecificity- Isoantigen & HLA Autospecificity Heterophile specificity

Ag. Recognition by T-cells & B -cells

Characteristic Interaction with Ag B- cells Involve binary complex of mIg & Ag T-cells Trinary complex of TCR,Ag,MHC

Binding with soluble Ag Involvement of MHC Chemical nature of Ag

Epitope properties

Yes Not required Protein,Polysaccharide, Lipid

Accessible,hydrophilic, mobile peptides

No Required Mostly Protein

Internal linear peptides produced by processing of Ag & bound to MHC molecules.

Adjuvent
Definition- Substances that,when mixed with an antigen and injected with it, enhance the immunogenecity of that antigen. Mechanism of action- Ag. Persistance is prolonged. - Co-stimulatory signals are enhanced. - Local Inflammation is increased. - The nonspecific proliferation of lymphocytes is stimulated. Aluminium potasium sulfate ( Alum ).Freunds incomplete & complete adjuvent.

Hapten
Small organic molecules that are antigenic but not immunogenic Chemical coupling of a hapten to a large protein yields an immunogenic hapten-carrier conjugate. Animals immunized with such conjugate produce antibodies specific for Hapten determinants - Unaltered epitopes on the carrier protein. -New epitopes formed by combined parts of both carrier-hapten. Many biologically important substances, including drugs,peptide hormones & steroid hormones can function as hapten.