Antigens 2022-2023
Antigens 2022-2023
Antigens 2022-2023
Immune System
Innate Adaptive
(Nonspecific) (Specific)
• Foreigness
• Size
• Chemical
Composition
• Physical Form
– Particulate > Soluble
– Denatured > Native
Factors Influencing Immunogenicity
Contribution of the Immunogen
• Foreigness
• Size
• Chemical Composition
• Physical Form
• Degradability
– Ag processing by Ag Presenting Cells (APC)
Factors Influencing Immunogenicity
Contribution of the Biological System
• Genetics
– Species
– Individual
• Responders vs Non-responders
• Age
Factors Influencing Immunogenicity
Method of Administration
• Dose
• Route
– Subcutaneous > Intravenous > Intragastric
• Adjuvant (adjuvare =help)
– Substances that enhance an immune
response to an Ag
– Aluminum potassium sulfate (alum) –
prolongs the exposure to antigen
– Freund’s incomplete adjuvant ( water in oil +
emulsyfing agent)
– Freund’s complete adjuvant ( +extract of
mycobacterium cell wall)
Chemical Nature of
Immunogens
• Proteins
• Polysaccharides
• Nucleic Acids
• Lipids
– Some glycolipids and phosopholipids can be
immunogenic for T cells and illicit a cell
mediated immune response
Types of Antigens
T-independent
Ti-1 and Ti-2
• Repetitive epitopes
• No memory
response
EX: Pneumococcal polysaccharide,
Lipopolysaccharide
Flagella
Types of Antigens
T-dependent
• Proteins
• Structure
• Examples
– Microbial
proteins
– Non-self or
Altered-self
proteins
Hapten
Low MW molecules
Drugs (antibiotics)
Nonimmunogenic – unless are coupled
with high MW molecules (CARRIER)
HAPTENS
Hapten-carrier conjugates
• Definition
• Structure
Haptenic determinants
– native
determinants
– haptenic
determinants
Native determinants
Antigenic Determinants
Recognized by B cells and Ab
• Composition
– Proteins, polysaccharides, nucleic acids
– Sequence (linear) determinants
– Conformational determinants
• Conformational determinants - structures
in which the contributing amino acids may
be located far apart in their linear
sequence but which become juxtaposed
when the protein is folded in its natural or
native shape
• Linear – they are defined by a particular
stretch of consecutive aac
Antigenic Determinants
Recognized by B cells and Ab
• Composition
• Size
• Number
– Limited
(immunodominant
epitopes)
– Located on the
external surfaces
of the Ag
Antigenic Determinants
Recognized by T cells
• Composition
– Proteins (some lipids)
– Sequence determinants
• Processed
• MHC presentation (lipid presentation by MHC-
like CD1)
• Number
– Limited to those that can bind to MHC
Superantigens
• Definition
Conventional Antigen Superantigen
Attachment via
ScavengerR
IgG FcR
CR
Toll-like R
Biological
PAMP PRR Consequence
of Interaction
Microbial cell wall Complement Opsonization;
components Complement
activation
Mannose- Mannose-binding Opsonization;
containing protein Complement
carbohydrates activation
Polyanions Scavenger Phagocytosis
receptors
Lipoproteins of TLR-2 (Toll-like Macrophage
Gram + bacteria receptor 2) activation;
Yeast cell wall Secretion of
components inflammatory
cytokines
Biological
PAMP PRR Consequence
of Interaction
Double stranded TLR-3 Production of
RNA interferon
(antiviral)
LPS TLR-4 Macrophage
(lipopolysacchari activation;
de of Gram – Secretion of
bacteria inflammatory
cytokines
Flagellin TLR-5 Macrophage
(bacterial activation;
flagella) Secretion of
inflammatory
cytokines
Biological
PAMP PRR Consequence of
Interaction
U-rich single TLR-7 Production of
stranded viral interferon
RNA (antiviral)