Thekey difference抗原决定基与半抗原那是表位是一个antigenthat is recognized by anantibody, while hapten is a small molecule that can elicit an immune response only when conjugated to a suitablecarrier protein.
The way the human body defends itself against harmfulpathogensor foreign elements is called an immune response. In an immune response, the immune system recognizes the antigens on the surface of the infectious agents, attacks and destroys them using macrophages or antibodies. Epitope and hapten are two important structures involved in the immune response process.
内容
1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is an Epitope
3.什么是触觉
4.相似之处 - 表位和触觉
5.Epitope vs Hapten in Tabular Form
6。Summary – Epitope vs Hapten
What is an Epitope?
Epitope or antigenic determinant is the part of an antigen that is recognized by an antibody in order to trigger an immune response. An epitope is specifically recognized by antibodies, B cells, or T cells. The part of the antibody that binds to the specific epitope in the antigen is called a paratope. Epitopes are usually non-self proteins. However, sequences that are derived from the host that can be recognized also function as epitopes in the case of autoimmune diseases.

Figure 01: Epitope
抗原的表位分为两类,作为构象表位和线性表位。该分裂基于它们的结构和与寄生虫的相互作用。构象表位通常由不连续氨基酸残基的相互作用所采用的3D构象形成。另一方面,线性表位通常由连续氨基酸残基的相互作用所采用的3D构象形成。此外,线性表位不仅仅由相关氨基酸的一级结构决定。此外,90%的表位是构象的,其余10%的表现本质上是线性的。基于表位的疫苗于1985年首次开发。
What is Hapten?
A hapten is a small molecule that can elicit an immune response only when conjugated to a suitable carrier protein. Hapten reacts with a specific antibody, but it is not immunogenic by itself. Moreover, hapten can only be made immunogenic after conjugation to a suitable carrier protein-like antigen. After hapten is bound to a larger molecule like a carrier protein, it will become a complete antigen. Therefore, a hapten is essentially an incomplete antigen. Many drugs like penicillin are haptens.

图02:触
A carrier does not elicit an immune response by itself. When the body develops antibodies to a hapten-carrier adduct, the small hapten molecule may also be able to bind to the antibody. But only the hapten-carrier adduct usually initiates the immune response. Furthermore, hapten molecules can sometimes even block immune responses to the hapten-carrier adduct from binding to the antibody. This process is called hapten inhibition.
What are the Similarities Between Epitope and Hapten?
- 表位和触发是免疫反应过程中涉及的两个重要结构。
- Both can bind to the antibodies.
- They can be identified in the blood.
- Both are very important for the human body to defend against pathogens like bacteria, viruses, or other toxins.
表位和触觉有什么区别?
An epitope is the part of an antigen that serves as an antigenic determinant recognized by an antibody, while a hapten is a small molecule that can elicit an immune response only when conjugated to a suitable carrier protein. Thus, this is the key difference between epitope and hapten. Furthermore, epitope is a portion of a foreign protein or self protein, while hapten is an incomplete antigen.
The below infographic presents the differences between epitope and hapten in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Epitope vs Hapten
表位和触觉是产生免疫反应所需的两个重要结构。表位是由抗体识别的抗原决定因素,而Hapten是一个小分子,只有在偶联到合适的载体蛋白时才能引起免疫反应。因此,这总结了表位与触觉之间的差异。
Reference:
1.“”Epitope.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
2. “Hapten”。概述| ScienceDirect Topics.
Image Courtesy:
1.“”Epitope-mapping illustration-6-copy”凯瑟琳·埃德蒙森(Kathryn Edmondson)(作为整体分子的雇员) - 自己的工作,(CC BY-SA 4.0)通过Commons Wikimedia
2. “Hapten” By MantOs – Own work(CC BY-SA 3.0)通过Commons Wikimedia
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