Did you know antigen and antibody share a specific bond?

Each antibody is capable of binding specifically to a unique antigen leading to precise detection of the target. Thus, immune response in acquired immunity is due to the precise binding of antigen to antibody. Only a very small area of the antigen and antibody actually interact through complementary binding sites, called epitope in antigen and paratope in antibody.

However, it is important to recognize that a particular epitope could potentially appear on more than one protein antigen. So, one antibody could potentially recognize two or more proteins if these proteins are highly homologous and contain the same epitope.

The principles of specificity and cross-reactivity of the antigen-antibody interaction are useful in clinical laboratory for diagnostic purposes.

Isn’t this amazing! 🙂