Immunogen

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An immunogen is an antigen that, due to its immunogenicity , is able to trigger an immune response .

properties

Antigens can be divided into immunogens and haptens . The hapten has only one epitope and only triggers an immune response together with a carrier protein, while the immunogen can activate B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes on its own due to its surface structure .

Any substance that can trigger an immune response is an immunogen. There is a clear distinction between immunogen and antigen . Any substance that an antibody can bind to is an antigen. This means that all antigens have the potential to trigger the production of specific antibodies. However, some must be bound to an immunogen in order for the production of antibodies to actually be triggered. In other words, all immunogens are antigens, but not all antigens are immunogens.

An immunogen can come in many forms or be used for a vaccination : complete cells , cell extracts , inactivated or attenuated pathogens , viral vectors , virus-like particles , virosomes , purified proteins , recombinant fusion proteins , synthetic peptides , carbohydrates , lipids or as a DNA vaccination .

DNA immunization and viral vectors may in the context of plasmid -based techniques are used to form a in-vivo - gene expression effect, in turn, induces an immune response in the test animal. These so-called genetic immunizations can be carried out by injecting the immunogen into the spleen or into the muscle , by intradermal administration with the aid of an apparatus such as the so-called gene gun , by transfection or by immunization by means of intradermal hydrodynamic injection.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Janeway's Immonobiology 8th edition Garland Science Taylor and Francis Group 2012 p. chapter the Immunologist's Tollbox p.717.
  2. ^ Howard, GC and Kaser, MR, Editors (2007): Making and Using Antibodies - A Practical Handbook. (CRC Press), p. 74, ISBN 0-8493-3528-0 .
  3. ↑ Velikovsky, CA et al. (2000): Single-shot plasmid DNA intrasplenic immunization for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Persistent expression of DNA. In: J Immunol Methods. Vol. 244 (1-2), pp. 1-7. PMID 11033013 .
  4. ↑ Kilpatrick, KE et al. (1998): Gene gun delivered DNA-based immunizations mediate rapid production of murine monoclonal antibodies to the Flt-3 receptor. In: Hybridoma. Vol. 17, pp. 569-576. PMID 9890713 .
  5. ↑ Sheehan, KC et al. (2006): Blocking monoclonal antibodies specific for mouse IFN-alpha / beta receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR-1) from mice immunized by in vivo hydrodynamic transfection. In: J Interferon Cytokine Res. Vol. 26, pp. 804-819. PMID 17115899 .
  6. ↑ Liu, F. et al. (1999): Hydrodynamics-based transfection in animals by systemic administration of plasmid DNA. In: Gene Ther. Vol. 6, pp. 1258-1266. PMID 10455434 .