Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: paul.fr on 18/08/2007 23:47:17

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: paul.fr on 18/08/2007 23:47:17

 [???]

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 19/08/2007 11:25:38

As far as I know, antibodies are the body's own defence against infection and antigen's stimulate the body to produce antibodies.

I dare say Chris will show me to be totally wrong.  [:(]

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: iko on 19/08/2007 16:18:23

Hi Paul.fr,

you may refresh your knowledge
about viral infections and go to
page 5 (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/dls/ila/hivtraining/participants/pdf/ParticipantModule1.pdf) for a definition of Ag and Ab.
Take care

ikoD

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: chris on 16/09/2007 22:03:58

Antigens are molecules that the immune system uses in responding to a target. In other words, antigens are like the molecular fingerprint of a cell, bacterium, virus or fungus. Antigens are usually proteins or pieces of protein.

Antibodies, on the other hand, are Y-shaped proteins made by B lymphocytes (plasma cells) that can recognise antigens. The tips of the Y are known as hypervariable regions which are programmed to bind antigen by shuffling genes.

Chris

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 20/09/2007 12:31:01

See? I told you Chris would show me up  [:(]

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: iko on 20/09/2007 12:35:36

Yes D.B.,

you had to click my previous link (digit: 5)
to open a splendid pdf with a proper 'box'
about antigen and Ab definition.
Plus an update on viral diseases...

ikod  [^]

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 20/09/2007 15:09:42

Quote from: iko on 20/09/2007 12:35:36

Yes D.B.,

you had to click my previous link (digit: 5)
to open a splendid pdf with a proper 'box'
about antigen and Ab definition.
Plus an update on viral diseases...

ikod  [^]

Oops... I hadn't realised it was a link. I thought it was just a weird reply!  [:I]

Title: What is the difference between antigen and antibody?
Post by: iko on 21/09/2007 09:05:39

I apologize for my temporary 'hidden-link' crisis.
Yes, it was a bit tricky!
Regards,

ikod