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antigen

[ˈæntɪdʒən]

antigen Definition

a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.

Using antigen: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "antigen" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The antigen on the surface of the virus triggers an immune response.

  • Example

    Vaccines work by introducing a harmless form of the antigen into the body to stimulate antibody production.

  • Example

    Blood typing is based on the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of red blood cells.

Phrases with antigen

  • self-antigen

    an antigen that originates from within the body, rather than from an external source

    Example

    Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks self-antigens.

  • cross-reactive antigen

    an antigen that shares structural similarities with another antigen, leading to an immune response against both antigens

    Example

    Some vaccines may produce cross-reactive antigens that provide protection against multiple strains of a virus.

  • an antigen produced by cancer cells that can be used as a target for immunotherapy

    Example

    Immunotherapy drugs target tumor antigens to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Origins of antigen

from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'genos' meaning 'race, kind'

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Summary: antigen in Brief

An 'antigen' [ˈæntɪdʒən] is a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies. Vaccines work by introducing a harmless form of the antigen into the body to stimulate antibody production. Blood typing is based on the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of red blood cells. Phrases like 'self-antigen,' 'cross-reactive antigen,' and 'tumor antigen' refer to specific types of antigens.