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What is an Antigen?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

An antigen is a substance which stimulates an immune response. When exposed to an antigen, the body views it as foreign material, and takes steps to neutralize it. Typically, the body accomplishes this by making antibodies, which are intended to defend the body from invasion by potentially dangerous substances. Several medical tests can be used to test for the substances, to determine whether or not someone has been exposed to a disease or toxin.

The term “antigen” comes from the understanding that many foreign substances stimulate antibody generation within the immune system. These antibodies can be beneficial, as is the case when the body learns to fight a virus like measles, or they can be harmful, in the instance of allergies. The unique signatures of these antibodies can be identified in medical testing, which may be used to determine why a patient is exhibiting a set of symptoms.

Someone who eats a poisonous mushroom is ingesting a type of antigen that will trigger an immune response.
Someone who eats a poisonous mushroom is ingesting a type of antigen that will trigger an immune response.

Most animals have what is known as an adaptive immune system. Within the immune system, a number of cells serve specific functions which help the immune system recognize and deal with potential threats to its host. Some of these cells learn to recognize substances which are not from the host organism. When an antigen is identified, these cells alert other cells to the problem, and the body takes action.

Antigen responses can sometimes be triggered by otherwise harmless things, such as peanut butter.
Antigen responses can sometimes be triggered by otherwise harmless things, such as peanut butter.

A number of things can be sources of antigens. Humans can inhale or ingest bacteria and viruses from other organisms, for example. A toxin can also be a source, as the body realizes the substance is foreign and potentially dangerous. Transplanted organs and tissue material can also generate an antibody response, since the body does not recognize them as being part of the host organism. Because of this issue, people who undergo organ transplants take immunosuppressive drugs which are designed to limit the response so the body does not reject the introduced organ.

Immunity is achieved through a number of different ways, including exposure to antigens.
Immunity is achieved through a number of different ways, including exposure to antigens.

Sometimes, the body develops an antigen response to something which is not actually harmful. This is better known as an allergy. In these instances, the body is exposed to a small amount of the antigen, such as peanut butter, wheat, or a bee sting. The helper cells in the immune system tag the substance, triggering the body to produce cells which will counter the substance if it appears in the body again. When the unwitting human host eats peanuts, nibbles on a slice of toast, or is stung by a bee again, the body launches an antibody response which can cause severe discomfort and sometimes even death.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

aaaCookie

@behaviourism, that is another good example. While antibiotics, immunizations, and other preventative measures seem like a good idea, they can backfire.

Antibiotics are only good against bacterial infections and diseases; against anything else, they are useless. Additionally, overuse of them can cause the same antibiotic to not help you the next time you have the same illness. Antibiotics also cannot be used preventatively unless in high quantities, as they are in the meat industry.

Immunizations, while different, have some of the same problems. One immunization can make your actual immune system weaken for a a few days, enough time to allow another, different strain of a virus to enter and cause problems; this especially happens to people who get flu shots when they are not in a high-risk group. For people of high risk, it is recommended despite the immune system weakness.

behaviourism

@aaaCookie, another example of the rise of bad antigen reactions relates to the flu and the influenza antigen. Some evidence argues that the increase in both flu shots and over-the-counter medicines like Theraflu are causing more resistant and dangerous flu strains, leading to increased problems of epidemic and illness.

aaaCookie

The rise of bad reactions to antigens is a growing concern in medicine, particularly food allergies. Many people think that the rise in allergies to things like peanuts is due to the increased number of antibiotics used in medicine, even for mild complaints, and against things which are not prevented by antibiotics, such as viruses.

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    • Someone who eats a poisonous mushroom is ingesting a type of antigen that will trigger an immune response.
      By: metibeti
      Someone who eats a poisonous mushroom is ingesting a type of antigen that will trigger an immune response.
    • Antigen responses can sometimes be triggered by otherwise harmless things, such as peanut butter.
      By: uckyo
      Antigen responses can sometimes be triggered by otherwise harmless things, such as peanut butter.
    • Immunity is achieved through a number of different ways, including exposure to antigens.
      By: robyelo357
      Immunity is achieved through a number of different ways, including exposure to antigens.
    • Antigens can be beneficial in teaching the body how to fight viruses like measles.
      By: NatUlrich
      Antigens can be beneficial in teaching the body how to fight viruses like measles.