ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY REACTION
When a matching antigen and antibody come together, an antigen-antibody complex forms. The
antibody binds to the antigen at the antigen-binding site and marks the antigen for destruction by
phagocytes and complement. The antibody itself does not damage the antigen, but because of the
bonding the end result, by one means or another, should be the lysis of the foreign cell and
inflammation. Here are the ways this may come about:
1. Agglutination---antibodies cause antigens to clump together, making it possible for
phagocytes to take in more than one of the antigen at a time. This reaction is also used in
diagnosis of some diseases and blood typing.
2. Opsonization---the antigen is coated with antibodies that enhance ingestion and lysis by
phagocytic cells.
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- Fall '09
- SMITH
- MACs., matching antigen
-
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