H-Antigen

H-ANTIGEN

h-antigen (syn. a. flagellar) is a protein localized on the surface of bacteria with flagella. H antigen is one of the main virulence factors in bacteria such as Salmonella enterica.

The H antigen is encoded by the genes of flagellin, a flagellar protein, and is exposed on the surface of the flagellum. Thanks to the H antigen, the immune system can recognize flagellated bacteria. There are many varieties of the H antigen, which allows bacterial strains to be classified into serovars.

H antigen plays an important role in the pathogenesis of infections caused by flagellated bacteria. It is involved in the adhesion of bacteria to host cells, as well as invasion and intracellular survival in phagocytes. The H antigen induces the body's immune response, including the formation of specific antibodies.