Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Antigens

Antigens are molecular structures, typically proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, or nucleic-acid complexes, that are recognized by the adaptive immune system and capable of eliciting a specific immune response. The precise region bound by an antibody or a T-cell receptor is the epitope, while the broader molecule may…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 26× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2577-137X 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Antigens are molecular structures, typically proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, or nucleic-acid complexes, that are recognized by the adaptive immune system and capable of eliciting a specific immune response. The precise region bound by an antibody or a T-cell receptor is the epitope, while the broader molecule may carry many distinct epitopes. Antigens are classified by origin and context: self-antigens normally tolerated by the host; non-self microbial and vaccine antigens; tumor-associated and oncofoetal antigens such as alpha-fetoprotein that re-emerge in malignancy; and alloantigens, notably the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system, which governs transplant compatibility and donor-specific antibody responses. T cells recognize peptide antigens only when processed and displayed on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, whereas B cells can bind native conformational antigens and, with helper signals, differentiate to secrete antibodies. This recognition underpins protective immunity and is harnessed in vaccination, where defined antigens, often combined with adjuvants, prime durable responses. Antigens also drive immunodiagnostics and immunomonitoring, including assays of immune responses to vaccination and infection, and inform cancer immunotherapy and transplantation immunology. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research spanning vaccine and tumor antigens, antibody generation including single-domain and monoclonal antibodies, and HLA and donor-specific antibody responses in transplantation.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2019

Avant Garde Alleviation -Cancer Immunotherapy

Bajaj AnubhaCorresponding author
MD. (Pathology) Panjab University, Department of Histopathology, A.B. Diagnostics, A-1, Ring Road , Rajouri Garden, New Delhi, 110027, India.
Exact topic Clinical and Diagnostic Pathology doi:10.14302/issn.2689-5773.jcdp-19-3061

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 26 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Antigens, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Immunization (ISSN 2577-137X).

Journal editorial board
Giuseppe Murdaca · Italy Harunor Rashid · Australia Ming Tan · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.