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Multiple Choice
What is the difference between an epitope and an antigen?
A
An epitope is a specific part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, while an antigen is a substance that can provoke an immune response.
B
An antigen is a molecule that can provoke an immune response, while an epitope is a molecule that cannot be recognized by the immune system.
C
An antigen is a specific part of an epitope that is recognized by the immune system, while an epitope is a substance that can provoke an immune response.
D
An epitope is a type of antigen that can provoke an immune response, while an antigen is a specific part of an epitope recognized by the immune system.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the definition of an antigen: An antigen is any substance that can provoke an immune response in the body. It is typically a foreign molecule, such as a protein or polysaccharide, that is recognized by the immune system.
Understand the definition of an epitope: An epitope, also known as an antigenic determinant, is a specific part of an antigen that is recognized and bound by an antibody or a receptor on a T-cell. It is the precise molecular structure that the immune system identifies.
Differentiate between the two: While an antigen is the entire molecule that can trigger an immune response, an epitope is just a small, specific part of that antigen that is recognized by the immune system.
Consider the relationship: An antigen can have multiple epitopes, meaning that different antibodies or immune cells can recognize different parts of the same antigen.
Summarize the key difference: The main distinction is that an epitope is a specific region on an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, whereas an antigen is the whole molecule that can elicit an immune response.