immunodominánsak

Immunodominance is a phenomenon observed during an immune response where a limited set of epitopes are recognized by the host's immune system, even when a pathogen or antigen presents a much larger array of potential epitopes. These preferentially recognized epitopes are termed immunodominant. This selective response is not due to the immunodominant epitopes being the most numerous or the most abundant, but rather due to a complex interplay of factors influencing their presentation and recognition by immune cells.

Several mechanisms contribute to immunodominance. In T cell responses, factors such as the efficiency of antigen processing and presentation by MHC molecules, the stability of the peptide-MHC complex, and the affinity of the T cell receptor for the presented epitope play crucial roles. Similarly, in B cell responses, the accessibility and immunogenicity of B cell epitopes on the surface of an antigen influence their preferential binding by B cells and subsequent antibody production.

The consequences of immunodominance are significant. It can limit the breadth of the immune response, potentially leaving the host vulnerable to variants of the pathogen that express different, non-immunodominant epitopes. Conversely, understanding immunodominance is vital for the development of effective vaccines, as it allows for the targeted inclusion of the most immunogenic epitopes to elicit a strong and protective immune response. Research in this area aims to unravel the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms governing immunodominance to better predict and manipulate immune responses in health and disease.