Characteristics of antigen-antibody interaction

Question

Provide some of the general characteristics of the antigen-antibody interaction.

Answer 1

a) The reaction is specific and antigen fuses only with its corresponding antibody and vice versa.

b) Whole molecules react however not the fragment does.

c) There is no denaturation of the antigen or antibody at the time of reaction.

d) The combination of the antigen – antibody is firm however reversible. The firmness of reaction is influenced by the affinity and avidity of reaction.

e) Both the antigens and antibodies participate in the formation of agglutination and precipitation reactions.

f) Antigens and antibodies may join in different proportions unlike chemicals with fixed vacancy.