What is Antigens functions
Antigens are substances that elicit an immune response from the body. They can be of various types, but most commonly they take the form of proteins or polysaccharides found on a pathogen's surface. These antigens serve as recognition molecules for specific pathogens and invite a targeted immunological reaction in order to protect the host against infection. In 2020 there has been an increased focus on antigen development due to their potential use in vaccines, where previously inactive virus components can act as antigens and provoke protective immunity prior to exposure with actual viruses. With new vaccine platforms entering the market utilizing this concept researchers hope to develop more effective vaccinations against infectious diseases faster than ever before leading potentially into eradication programs supported by potent artificially generated antibodies matching specific pathogens offering life-saving solutions mostly for developing countries yet posing challenges and opportunities at economic level all around globe alike
Functions of Antigems
An antigen is a molecule that can induce an immune response. It generally consists of proteins or carbohydrates which contain small fragments of the pathogen, like viruses and bacteria. Antigens are essential in activating the body’s defense system to fight against invading pathogens.
The main function of an antigen is to act as a marker for the recognition by white blood cells called lymphocytes in order to respond quickly and effectively when faced with harmful infections or foreign substances such as pollen particles from flowering plants.
In order for this identification process to take place, antigens must be specific enough so that they may distinguish between its own immunologically recognizable molecules; these molecules attach themselves onto certain receptors located on B-cell surfaces and activate them so they would recognize their target antigen better.
Once activated through an antigen-specific reaction, antibodies produced by Bcells respond specifically too just one kind of molecule enabling signal cascades throughout the entire immune system, thus preparing it before any other infectious agent takes hold within our bodies