Immunological Immunological memory ‘An antigen introduced parenterally into the body stimulates the production of an anti which it reacts specifically i a “ ‘Antigens may be classified into different types. On an origin the antigens can be: Bacterial Vegetative Animals Viral Rickettsial Antigens may be complete and_haptens. A complete antigen is able to induce antibody formation and produce a specific reaction with the antibody so produced (in vivo and in vitro) Haptens_are substances which are incapable of inducing antibody formation by themselves but can react specifically with antibodies Haptens become immunogenic (capable of inducing antibo di ‘on combining with a larger molecule carrier (protein). a a aaainduction of an immune response (immunogenicity) specific reaction with antibodies or sensitised cells (immunological The smallest unit of antigenicity is known as antigenic determinant or epitope. ‘The epitope is that small area on the antigen that interacts with a single antibody molecule, Within a protein an epitope may be a specific sequence (linear epitope) or a three-dimensional structure ( conformational epitope). Antigens usually contain several epitopes, each capable of binding to a different antibody molecule The combining area on the antibody molecule, corresponding to the epitope, is called the paratope. Epitopes and paratopes determine the specificity of immunological reactions. Bacteria and viruses carry many different types of epitopes. In addition we can say Antigens are molecules that react with antibodies, whereas immunogens are molecules that induce an immune response. In most cases, antigens are immunogens, and the terms are used interchangeably. ~ Not all molecules are immunogens.all proteins are antigenic. A well known exception is gelatin — it has been a ce of aromatic aminoacids such as tyrosine, tryptophan, phenylalanine in it, A rigid structure. presence of an aromatic radical is essential for antigenicity. 3)Molecular size (weight). Very large molecules are highly antigenic (tens and hundred thousand of Daltons), and particles with low molecular weight (less than 10 000) are nonantigenic or feebly so. Polysaccharides can be antigenic only in the event that their molecular weight is not less than 600 000. Some low molecular weight substances appear to contradict the requirement that an antigen be large. Among these are picryl chloride, formaldehyde and drugs such as aspirin, penicillin and sulphonamides. This substances are highly antigenic. The reason for this appears to be that such materials form complexes by means of covalent bonds with tissue proteins. The complex of such a substance, acting as a hapten, with a tissue protein acting as a carrier, forms a complete antigen. This phenomenon has important implications in the development of certain types of hypersensitivity. 4)Susceptibility to tissue enzymes. Substances which are metabolized and are susceptible to the action of tissue enzymes behave as itigens, ibstances insusceptible to tissue enzymes are not antigenic: n ic polypeptides, composed of D-aminoacids which are not metabolized in the body, are igenic, while polypeptides consisting of L-aminoacids are antigenic. ion. fe proteins lose the antigenicity. For example, proteins, coagulated by ons of acids or alkalis, are not antigens.