antigen
Definition
An antigen is any molecule, typically a protein, polysaccharide, or lipid, that can be recognized by the adaptive immune system and trigger an immune response. Antigens contain specific regions called epitopes that bind to antibodies or T-cell receptors. In proteomics, antigens are crucial for understanding immune recognition, vaccine development, and autoimmune diseases. They can be exogenous (from pathogens like bacteria or viruses), endogenous (from the body's own cells, including tumor antigens), or autoantigens (self-proteins targeted in autoimmune conditions). Proteomic techniques like mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation are used to identify, characterize, and quantify antigens, enabling researchers to map immune responses and develop targeted immunotherapies.
Visualize antigen in Nodes Bio
Researchers can use Nodes Bio to visualize antigen-antibody interaction networks, mapping how specific antigens connect to immune receptors, downstream signaling pathways, and cellular responses. Network analysis reveals which antigens share epitopes, how antigen presentation pathways converge, and which proteins are co-expressed with tumor antigens. This enables identification of immunotherapy targets and prediction of cross-reactive immune responses across related antigens.
Visualization Ideas:
- Antigen-antibody binding networks showing specificity and cross-reactivity patterns
- Antigen presentation pathway networks linking antigens to MHC molecules and T-cell receptors
- Tumor antigen co-expression networks identifying immunotherapy target combinations
Example Use Case
A cancer immunology team investigating melanoma tumor antigens uses proteomics to identify overexpressed proteins on cancer cells. They discover MART-1 and gp100 antigens are highly abundant. By mapping these antigens in a network with their interacting MHC molecules, T-cell receptors, and downstream immune signaling proteins, they identify that both antigens activate overlapping cytotoxic pathways. This network analysis guides the design of a combination vaccine targeting multiple tumor antigens to enhance T-cell recognition and improve patient response rates.