Inmunógenos

Inmunógenos are substances that can trigger an immune response in the body. This response is the immune system's way of recognizing and eliminating foreign invaders or abnormal cells. Not all substances are immunogenic; the ability to provoke an immune response depends on several factors, including the substance's molecular size, chemical composition, and foreignness to the host organism.

The immune system recognizes immunogens through specific recognition sites called epitopes. These epitopes are parts of the immunogen that are directly recognized by immune cells, such as lymphocytes. Antigens are a broader category of molecules that can bind to antibodies or T-cell receptors, and while many antigens are immunogens, not all antigens are immunogenic. For example, a small molecule might be an antigen that can bind to an antibody, but if it's too small on its own, it might not be able to elicit a full immune response and therefore wouldn't be considered an immunogen unless attached to a larger carrier molecule.

The immune response to an immunogen can involve the production of antibodies by B cells and the activation of T cells, which can directly kill infected cells or help regulate the immune response. This ability of immunogens to stimulate the immune system is crucial for vaccination, where weakened or inactivated forms of pathogens or their components are introduced into the body to prime the immune system without causing disease. This prepares the body to fight off future infections by the actual pathogen.