epitop

Epitop neboli antigenní determinant je konkrétní oblast antigenu, na kterou se váží protilátky. Každá proteinová molekula obsahuje několik epitopů, tzn. několik míst, kam se vážou protilátky. Počet epitopů na molekule úzce souvisí s velikostí daného proteinu. Obecně se udává přibližně jeden epitop na 5 kDa proteinu.

epitope

An epitope, also known as antigenic determinant, is the part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, specifically by antibodies, B cells, or T cells. The part of an antibody that recognizes the epitope is called a paratope. Although epitopes are usually thought to be derived from non-self proteins, sequences derived from the host that can be recognized are also classified as epitopes.