| antigenic switching | <immunology> The process by which a pathogenic microbe's genetic structure is altered tochange its surface antigens inorder to avoid being detected by the host's immune system. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| idiotypic antigenic determinant | The antigenic specificites defined by the unique sequences (idiotopes) of the antigen combining site. Thus anti-idiotype antibodies combine with those specific sequences, may block immunological reactions and may resemble the epitope to which the first antibody reacts. (18 Nov 1997) |