antigenors

An antigenor is a term sometimes used in immunology to refer to a molecule that elicits an immune response. More commonly, these molecules are referred to as antigens. Antigens are substances that the immune system recognizes as foreign or as potentially harmful, triggering a cascade of defense mechanisms. These can include bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or even non-living substances like pollen or certain drugs. The immune system identifies antigens by specific molecular structures on their surface called epitopes. When an immune cell, such as a T cell or B cell, encounters an epitope it recognizes, it initiates an immune response. This response can involve the production of antibodies by B cells, which are proteins that bind to specific antigens, or the activation of T cells, which can directly kill infected cells or help regulate the immune response. The concept of an antigenor, or antigen, is fundamental to understanding how the body defends itself against disease and how vaccines work. Vaccines introduce weakened or inactive forms of antigens, or specific components of them, to train the immune system to recognize and fight off the actual pathogen without causing illness.