What is the difference between an antigen and an immunogen? The way I'm understanding it, an antigen is a part of the immunogen but is not necessarily an immunogen in and of itself. An antigen may not be able to ellict an immune response. Is this correct?
Yes, you are correct in your understanding. An antigen is a general term used to describe any substance that can be recognized by the immune system and elicit an immune response. On the other hand, an immunogen refers specifically to a substance capable of triggering the production of antibodies or an immune response.
While all immunogens are antigens, not all antigens are immunogens. Some antigens may not be capable of eliciting an immune response, either because they are not recognized by the immune system or because they do not have the ability to stimulate the production of antibodies. These antigens without immunogenic properties are often referred to as "non-immunogenic" or "weakly immunogenic."
Yes, you are correct in your understanding. An antigen is a molecule that is capable of stimulating an immune response. It can be any substance, such as a protein or a carbohydrate, that is recognized by the immune system as foreign and elicits an immune response. Antigens can come from external sources, such as bacteria or viruses, or they can be produced within the body, such as tumor antigens.
On the other hand, an immunogen refers to a specific type of antigen that is capable of inducing an immune response. While all immunogens are antigens, not all antigens are immunogens. An immunogen is an antigen that is able to elicit an immune response by triggering the activation and proliferation of immune cells, leading to the production of specific antibodies or cellular immune responses.
To determine whether an antigen is an immunogen, it depends on factors such as the size, structure, and presentation of the antigen to the immune system. For example, certain antigens may be too small or poorly presented to the immune cells, and therefore fail to induce a significant immune response. Additionally, the immunogenicity of an antigen can be influenced by factors such as the genetic background of the host, the route of exposure, and the presence of co-stimulatory molecules.
In summary, while an antigen is any molecule that can be recognized by the immune system, an immunogen specifically refers to an antigen that has the ability to induce an immune response.