Chapter 10: Serology Concepts

A foreign substance that is capable of eliciting antibody formation when introduced into a host.

are usually macromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides.

Also known as determinant site; the molecular structure of an immunogen, usually a small portion recognized by an antibody.

Multiple epitope in an immunogen.

A foreign substance that is capable of reacting with an antibody.

An example of a substance that is antigenic but not immunogenic.

Also known as immunoglobulins, are capable of binding specifically to antigens and are designated with an Ig prefix.

The immunoglobulins that differ based on the molecular variations in the constant domains of the heavy and light chains.

are usually monomers.

can be a membrane-bound monomer or a cross-linked pentamer.

can be a monomer, dimer, or trimer.

is the most abundant immunoglobulin in serum.

The _____ can be divided into fragment antigen-binding (Fab) and fragment crystallizable (Fc) fragments.

The _____ consists of a Fab fragment only.

A typical antibody has two identical antigen-binding sites and is thus considered ______.

At the amino acid sequence level, both H and L chains have _____.

The variable domains are located at the _______ ends of the immunoglobulins.

To produce an antibody, an _______ is usually introduced into a host animal.

A ________ is capable of eliciting a mixture of antibodies with diverse specificities for the immunogen.

As a result, a ______ is produced by different B lymphocyte clones in response to the different epitopes of the immunogen.

Circulating immunoglobulins.

The blood from an immune host is drawn and allowed to clot, resulting in the formation of a solid consisting largely of blood cells and a liquid portion known as _____ containing antibodies.

Preparation of humoral antibodies.

To produce a monoclonal antibody, ______ are harvested from a host animal, such as a mouse, inoculated with an immunogen.

Next, the plasma cells of the spleen, which produce antibodies, are fused with ______ cells.

The fused cells, called ______, are immortal in cell cultures.

If a purified foreign immunoglobulin or a fragment of a foreign immunoglobulin is introduced into a host, the antibodies produced are known as ________.

can be formed during antigen–antibody binding.

The energy of the interaction of a single epitope on an antigen and a single bind- ing site on a corresponding antibody.

Antibodies bind with lower strength to antigens that are structurally similar to the immunogen.

The overall strength of the binding of an antibody and an antigen.

It is the binding of a single epitope of an antigen (Ag) and a single binding site of an antibody (Ab) to form an antigen–antibody complex.

If a soluble antigen is mixed and incubated with its antibody, the antigen–antibody complexes can form cross-linked complexes at the optimal ratio of antigen-to-antibody concentration.

Antibodies that produce such precipitation.

Illustrates the results observed when antigens and antibodies are mixed in various concentration ratios.

Here the ratio of antigen–antibody concentration is low.

As the concentrations of antigen increase, the amount of precipitate increases until it reaches a maximum.

Here the ratio of antigen–antibody concentrations is high or in excess.

If the antigens are located on the surfaces of cells or carriers antibodies can bind to the surface antigens and can form cross-links among cells or carriers, causing them to aggregate.

If the antigen is located on an erythrocyte, the agglutination reaction is designated _________.

The first step of the reaction involves antigen–antibody binding at a single epitope on the cell surface.

The second step involves the formation of a cross-linked network resulting in visible aggregates that constitute a lattice.

Antibodies that produce agglutination.

Capable of carrying out both primary and secondary interactions that result in agglutination.

An antibody that can carry out initial binding but fails to form agglutination.