Definition

A specific part of an antigen that can trigger an immune response and bind to a particular antibody.

Example

The vaccine was designed to target a specific epitope on the virus.

Conversation

I was reading about how our immune system recognizes invaders.

Oh really? What did you find out?

They mentioned something called an epitope on antigens.

That's interesting! It seems crucial for how our bodies fight infections.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Epitope → It is formed from "epi-" (meaning upon or above) and "topos" (meaning place). An epitope refers to the specific part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, essentially the 'place' on the antigen that antibodies bind to.

Memory Tip

Think of 'upon' ('epi-') a specific 'place' ('topos') on an antigen where the immune system recognizes and binds. This helps you remember that an epitope is the specific site on an antigen.

Visually Confused Words