PROTEANTIGEN Meaning and
Definition
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Proteantigen is a term used in the field of immunology to describe a specific type of antigen that is derived from a protein. An antigen is a molecule that can elicit an immune response in the body by binding to specific receptors on immune cells, known as antibodies.
Proteantigens are generally proteins or peptides that are either present on the surface of a pathogen or produced within the body as a result of cellular processes. These antigens play a crucial role in activating the immune system by triggering an immune response. Once proteantigens are recognized by the immune system, they stimulate the production of specific antibodies that bind to them, thereby targeting the antigens for destruction.
Proteantigens can be found in various biological contexts. For example, in the case of infectious diseases, proteantigens can be derived from viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi. These pathogenic organisms often possess unique proteins on their surface that serve as markers for the immune system to identify and mount a defense against them.
In addition to pathogenic antigens, proteantigens can also be derived from endogenous proteins produced by the body's own cells, such as those associated with cancer cells or autoimmune disorders. In these cases, the immune system may recognize these self-derived proteantigens as foreign and initiate an immune response against them, potentially leading to disease progression or autoimmunity.
Understanding the nature and properties of proteantigens is essential for developing diagnostic tools, vaccines, and targeted therapies that can harness the power of the immune system to combat infections, prevent diseases, or treat disorders.
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A protein, whether animal or vegetable, employed as a therapeutic antigen.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PROTEANTIGEN
- oroteantigen
- lroteantigen
- -roteantigen
- 0roteantigen
- peoteantigen
- pdoteantigen
- pfoteantigen
- ptoteantigen
- p5oteantigen
- p4oteantigen
- priteantigen
- prkteantigen
- prlteantigen
- prpteantigen
- pr0teantigen
- pr9teantigen
- proreantigen
- profeantigen
- progeantigen
- proyeantigen
Etymology of PROTEANTIGEN
The word "proteantigen" is a combination of two terms: "protein" and "antigen".
The term "protein" comes from the French word "protéine" which was coined in 1838 by the Swedish chemist, Jöns Jacob Berzelius. Berzelius derived the term from the Greek word "protos", meaning "first" or "primary", as proteins were believed to be essential substances for life.
The word "antigen" has a more complex origin. It was coined in 1908 by the German bacteriologist, Paul Ehrlich. He combined the Greek words "anti", meaning "against", and "gennan", meaning "to produce" or "to bring forth". Ehrlich used this term to describe substances that stimulated an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies.
