Cross reactivity allergy1/28/2024 In the case of an allergy, the antigen is called an allergen. Cross-Reactivity Can Increase the Number of AllergensĪn allergy occurs when antibodies recognize antigens from benign sources (e.g., foods, plants, animals) as invading pathogens and inappropriately mount an immune response against them. In this way, a less specific antibody provides broad-spectrum immunity despite antigenic variation in pathogens. Cross-reactivity allows the same antibody to recognize and provoke a similarly robust immune response to a closely related but previously unencountered antigen. ![]() This process is called immunological memory. When a circulating antibody recognizes a viral or bacterial pathogen that it has encountered previously, it mounts a rapid immune response and targets the pathogen for destruction. Cross-Reactivity Facilitates Immunity against Related Pathogen StrainsĪ major benefit of antibody cross-reactivity is that it provides cross-protective immunity to related pathogens. Cross-reactivity occurs when two distinct epitopes are structurally similar, and hence are recognized by the same antibody. As such, a single antigen may present several distinct epitopes. Most epitopes are only 5-6 amino acids long. The specific sequence of amino acids that is recognized by the antibody is called an epitope. Often, antigens are proteins on the surface of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoan invaders. By definition, anything that is bound by an antibody, and subsequently elicits an immune response, is called an antigen. Structurally Similar Epitopes May Be Found on Different AntigensĪntibodies can initiate an immune response by binding to specific structures on the surface of pathogens or other foreign elements. It is increasingly important to understand the principles of cross-reactivity, as antibodies are actively being developed as therapeutic modalities for diverse diseases, including cancer. However, cross-reactivity also elicits allergy symptoms against related allergens. The ability of a single antibody to recognize multiple structurally similar epitopes is an important immune defense strategy that enables the host to efficiently defend against many potentially threatening pathogens.
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