Affinity refers to the strength of the interaction between an antibody and its specific antigen. It is a measure of how tightly an antibody binds to its antigenic target.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Affinity is determined by the fit between the antigen-binding site of an antibody and its specific epitope on the antigen.
High-affinity antibodies bind more tightly to antigens, leading to more effective immune responses.
Affinity maturation occurs in B cells through somatic hypermutation and selection for higher affinity antibodies.
Monoclonal antibodies are typically produced to have high affinity for a single epitope, making them useful in diagnostics and therapeutics.
The concept of affinity is critical in understanding both polyclonal and monoclonal antibody production.