Select the correct statement about antigens.
A) "Self-antigens" is another name for incomplete antigens.
B) The largest type of antigen is called a hapten.
C) One antigen may have many different antigenic determinants and may therefore cause the formation of more than one antibody.
D) Only small antigens exhibit reactivity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement is correct. An antigen can have multiple antigenic determinants (also called epitopes), which are specific regions of the antigen molecule that can elicit an immune response and bind to specific antibodies. This means that one antigen can stimulate the production of multiple different antibodies, each targeting a different epitope.

A) is incorrect because self-antigens are not incomplete antigens, but rather normal cellular components that are recognized as "self" by the immune system and do not generally elicit an immune response against them.

B) is incorrect because a hapten is a small molecule that can bind to but cannot elicit an immune response on its own - it only becomes immunogenic when it is conjugated to a larger carrier molecule.

D) is incorrect because reactivity is not limited to small antigens - larger antigens can also induce an immune response.

Select the Correct Statement About Antigens