antigen
Sign in to savethumb|255px|An illustration that shows how antigens induce the immune system response by interacting with an [[antibody that matches the molecular structure of an antigen]]
AI overview
An antigen is a substance that triggers your immune system to respond by producing antibodies, which are proteins that recognize and bind to the antigen's specific molecular structure. Antigens matter because they're how your body identifies foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria, allowing your immune system to fight off infections and protect your health.
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Article
13 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Terminology
- Sources
- Exogenous antigens
- Endogenous antigens
- Autoantigens
- Neoantigens
- Viral antigens
- Process
- Nativity
- Antigenic specificity
- See also
- References
thumb|255px|An illustration that shows how antigens induce the immune system response by interacting with an [[antibody that matches the molecular structure of an antigen]]
In immunology, an antigen (Ag) is a molecule, or portion thereof, that can bind to a specific antibody or T-cell receptor. The presence of antigens in the body may trigger an immune response.