
Epitope - Wikipedia
An epitope, also known as antigenic determinant, is the part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, specifically by antibodies, B cells, or T cells. The part of an antibody that binds to the epitope is called a paratope.
Epitopes: Types, Function, Epitope Spreading - Microbe Online
Jun 1, 2021 · When an antibody binds to an antigen, it isn’t binding to the entire antigen but to a segment of that antigen known as an epitope. The part of an immunoglobulin that binds and fits the epitope is called a paratope .
12.2: Antigens and Epitopes - Biology LibreTexts
Aug 31, 2023 · The actual portions or fragments of an antigen that react with receptors on B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes, as well as with free antibody molecules, are called epitopes or antigenic determinants. The size of an epitope is generally thought to be equivalent to 5-15 amino acids or 3-4 sugar residues.
Epitope | Description & Function | Britannica
Epitope, portion of a foreign protein, or antigen, that is capable of stimulating an immune response. An epitope is the part of the antigen that binds to a specific antigen receptor on the surface of a B cell.
What is an Epitope? - News-Medical.net
May 10, 2021 · An epitope is the part of an antigen that the host’s immune system recognizes, eliciting the immune response to an invading pathogen.
Epitope - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
An epitope is a specific location on the surface of an antigen that has a particular molecular structure and that is recognized by a particular antibody or a set of specific antibodies that the epitope elicits during the immune response.
EPITOPE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of EPITOPE is a molecular region on the surface of an antigen capable of eliciting an immune response and of combining with the specific antibody produced by such a response —called also determinant, antigenic determinant.
Epitope Spreading: Mechanisms and Relevance in Immune Diseases
Mar 14, 2025 · Intermolecular Epitope Spreading. Intermolecular epitope spreading occurs when an immune response initially directed at one protein extends to epitopes on distinct but related proteins. This process is significant in autoimmune diseases, where the immune system broadens its reactivity to multiple self-antigens, leading to progressive tissue damage.
What is the Difference Between Epitope and Paratope
Jul 19, 2019 · The main difference between epitope and paratope is that epitope is a specific antigenic determinant that occurs on the antigen, whereas paratope is the antigen-binding site on the antibody. Furthermore, immune system components, including antibodies, B cells, and T cells, recognize epitopes while paratope binds to the specific epitope.
What are Epitopes? - biointron.com
Nov 6, 2024 · Epitopes, also known as antigenic determinants, are the specific regions of an antigen that antibodies recognize and bind to. The site on the antibody that interacts with the epitope is called the paratope.