Significance of Antigen
Antigen is a substance that induces an immune response, including the production of antibodies. It plays a crucial role in vaccines by stimulating the immune system to combat specific pathogens. Antigens can also trigger immune responses relevant to diagnostic tests and are vital in the context of diseases like COVID-19. They may consist of proteins or carbohydrates and can provoke allergic reactions, making them central to understanding immune responses and developing effective vaccines.
Synonyms: Toxin, Foreign substance, Immunogen, Allergen, Molecule, Substance
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The concept of Antigen in scientific sources
Antigen is a substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies, playing a vital role in combating infections such as COVID-19 by inducing an immune response.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) This is a substance that can trigger an immune response, and plasmids encoding tumour-associated antigens can induce both humoral and cellular immune responses.[1] (2) This is a substance, like LipL32, that is used for the detection of a disease, such as leptospirosis, in various studies that focus on diagnostic methods.[2] (3) Invaders that are targeted by the immune system, these are matched by antibodies secreted by B cells, and are the target of the immune response.[3] (4) A substance that elicits an immune response, and TSA is the immune-dominant one of Leishmania major.[4] (5) An antigen is a molecule, often a protein or part of a virus, that triggers an immune response and is recognized by antibodies or T cells.[5]