Samtigen

Samtigen is a term used in immunology to describe a molecule or complex that presents multiple antigenic determinants, enabling recognition by diverse B- and T-cell receptors. In practice, samtigen is not a single defined molecule; rather, it denotes multiepitope, mosaic, or conjugate antigens that combine epitopes from several pathogens or from different parts of a pathogen.

Composition and mechanism: A samtigen can be a recombinant protein encoding several epitopes, a mosaic protein assembled from multiple sequences, or a polysaccharide/protein conjugate carrying diverse determinants. Upon administration, the antigen is processed by antigen-presenting cells and presented on MHC molecules, stimulating B-cell and T-cell responses; the multivalent presentation can broaden specific antibody repertoires.

Applications: In research and vaccine design, samtigen concepts guide the creation of broad-protective immunogens and in serological assays that aim to detect antibodies against multiple pathogens in a single test.

Advantages and challenges: Potential advantages include broader protective coverage and reduced need for multiple vaccines. Challenges include ensuring balanced immunogenicity for all epitopes, avoiding antigenic competition, manufacturing complexity, and regulatory considerations.

Etymology and usage: The term samtigen appears mainly in some Scandinavian sources and is not universally standardized. In many contexts, equivalent terms such as multiepitope antigen, mosaic antigen, chimeric antigen, or conjugate antigen are used.

See also: antigen, epitope, multiepitope antigen, mosaic antigen, conjugate vaccine, chimeric protein.