Imunogênico

Imunogênico refers to a substance that has the capacity to induce an immune response. This means that when a substance is imunogênico, it can trigger the body's defense mechanisms, leading to the production of antibodies and/or cellular immunity. Not all substances that enter the body are imunogênico; some are tolerated by the immune system. The ability of a substance to be imunogênico depends on several factors, including its chemical nature, molecular size, and foreignness to the host organism.

Antigens are a type of imunogênico substance. They are typically molecules, often proteins or polysaccharides, found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria and viruses, or on the surface of foreign cells. When an imunogênico substance enters the body, the immune system recognizes it as foreign and mounts a response to neutralize or eliminate it. This recognition process involves specialized immune cells, such as lymphocytes, which can bind to specific parts of the imunogênico substance called epitopes. Vaccines are a prime example of utilizing imunogênic properties; they contain weakened or inactive forms of pathogens, or specific components of them, designed to be imunogênic and stimulate immunity without causing disease. Understanding imunogenicity is crucial in fields like vaccinology, immunology, and transplantation.