Which of the following is characteristic of complete antigens?
A) inhibit production of antibodies
B) contain many repeating chemical units
C) small molecules
D) reactivity with an antibody

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reactivity with an antibody is a characteristic of complete antigens. Complete antigens are large molecules or macromolecules that have a complex, three-dimensional structure that allows them to bind specifically to antibodies or T cell receptors. This binding induces an immune response, leading to the production of more antibodies or activated T cells. In contrast, small molecules or haptens can also bind to antibodies, but they are not complex enough to induce an immune response by themselves. They need to be attached to a carrier molecule or presented by a host cell to trigger an immune response. Antibodies can also inhibit the production of antigens, but this is not a characteristic of antigens themselves. Chemical units repeating in antigen structures are likely to enhance the overall antigenicity of the substance; however, this feature is not unique to complete antigens.

Which of the Following Is Characteristic of Complete Antigens