Antigen Valency

The valency of an antigen is the number of determinants (defining elements) of identical structure present in the antigen molecule, which can interact with antibodies, forming an immune complex. Each antigen contains several determinants that interact with various antibodies. Thus, an antigen with a high valency has a greater chance of causing an immune response in the body than an antigen with a low valency.

The valency of an antigen can be determined by analyzing its structure and interaction with antibodies. For example, if an antigen has only one determinant, then it will have low valency. If the antigen contains many determinants, then its valence will be high.

In addition, the valency of antigens can influence their specificity. If an antigen has a high valency and contains many determinants, then it can interact with a large number of antibodies, which can lead to cross-reaction with other antigens. This can be a problem when diagnosing infectious diseases, where antigens may interact with antigens from other infections.

Thus, the valence of an antigen is an important parameter for determining its properties and interaction with the body’s immune system.

Introduction One of the key elements of the immune system is the mechanism of antigens and antibodies. When confronted with a healthy body, the antigen is “assimilated” by brain cells through some external stimulus - smell, body temperature, physical irritation or even microbes. Carbon can be activated in a similar way, but that's another topic. When your immune system absorbs an antigen, it creates an antibody. The antibody doesn't understand the antigen, it just hangs around because it wants to be useful to the immune system and practice looking for similar antigens that could attack your body's cells at any time. The story of antigen valency * But how does antigen valency relate to the training of our antibodies? * As it happens, scientists have focused on the importance of valence when studying immune responses. You might think of antibodies as little teams of cyclists (antibodies) that train daily looking for their rivals (antigens), but these little cyclists all ride different types of bikes