The Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad has organized lately an electronic training course entitled “Simple ways to prepare Antigens” delivered by Assist. Prof. Dr. Bushra Jassim Mohammed via Google Meet service and with a wide participation of physicians, researchers and specialists in this field. The lecturer started with defining this term as being a molecule or molecular structure, that may be present on the outside of a pathogen, stating that the presence of antigens in the body normally triggers an immune response, then she discussed some simple methods of preparing Antigens, reviewing their types, chemical composition, as well as the receptors on their surface, their determinants and linkage with antibodies.
Dr. Bushra Jassim clarified that the term ”Antigen” is derived from the ability to induce antibodies which also refers to any substance capable of triggering an immune response. By definition, they are generally strange proteins entering the host body through infection, yet in some cases the body’s proteins may act as autoantigens to stimulate an autoimmune response, adding that bacteria and viruses in fact contain antigens, either on their surface or within.
