| R antigen | Those that produce active haemolysins (O and S) which cause a zone of clear haemolysis on the blood agar medium in the area of the colony; beta-haemolytic streptococci are divided into groups (A to O) on the basis of cell wall C carbohydrate (see Lancefield classification); Group A (in the strains pathogenic for man) comprises more than 50 types (designated by Arabic numerals) determined by cell wall M protein, which seems to be associated closely with virulence and is produced chiefly by strains with matt or mucoid colonies, in contrast to nonvirulent, glossy colony-producing strains; other surface protein antigens such as R and T (T substance), and the nucleoprotein fraction (P substance) seem to be of less importance. The more than 20 extracellular substances elaborated by strains of beta-haemolytic streptococci include erythrogenic toxin (elaborated only by lysogenic strains), deoxyribonuclease (streptodornase), haemolysins (streptolysins O and S), hyaluronidase, and streptokinase. Synonym: haemolytic streptococci. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| gene rearrangement, alpha-chain T-cell antigen receptor | Ordered rearrangement of T-cell variable gene regions coding for the alpha-chain of antigen receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gene rearrangement, beta-chain T-cell antigen receptor | Ordered rearrangement of T-cell variable gene regions coding for the beta-chain of antigen receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gene rearrangement, delta-chain T-cell antigen receptor | Ordered rearrangement of T-cell variable gene regions coding for the delta-chain of antigen receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gene rearrangement, gamma-chain T-cell antigen receptor | Ordered rearrangement of T-cell variable gene regions coding for the gamma-chain of antigen receptors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| M antigen | An antigen found in the cell of Streptococcus pyogenes; associated with virulence. See: beta-haemolytic streptococci. (05 Mar 2000) |
| receptor-CD3 complex, antigen, T-cell | Molecule composed of the non-covalent association of the T-cell antigen receptor (receptors, antigen, T-cell) with the CD3 complex (antigens, CD3). This association is required for the surface expression and function of both components. The molecule consists of up to seven chains: either the alpha/beta or gamma/delta chains of the T-cell receptor, and four or five chains in the CD3 complex. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, antigen | Molecules on the surface of b- and T-lymphocytes that recognise and combine with specific antigens. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, antigen, B-cell | Immunoglobulin molecules on the surface of B-lymphocytes that recognise and bind antigen. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, antigen, T-cell | Molecules on the surface of T-lymphocytes that recognise and combine with antigens. The receptors are non-covalently associated with a complex of several polypeptides collectively called CD3 antigens (antigens, CD3). Recognition of foreign antigen and the major histocompatibility complex is accomplished by a single heterodimeric antigen-receptor structure, composed of either alpha-beta (receptors, antigen, T-cell, alpha-beta) or gamma-delta (receptors, antigen, T-cell, gamma-delta) chains. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, antigen, T-cell, alpha-beta | T-cell receptors composed of CD3-associated alpha and beta polypeptide chains and expressed primarily in CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells. Unlike immunoglobulins, the alpha-beta T-cell receptors recognise antigens only when presented in association with major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules. (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, antigen, T-cell, gamma-delta | T-cell receptors composed of CD3-associated gamma and delta polypeptide chains and expressed primarily in CD4-/CD8- T-cells. The receptors appear to be preferentially located in epithelial sites and probably play a role in the recognition of bacterial antigens. The T-cell receptor gamma/delta chains are separate and not related to the gamma and delta chains which are subunits of CD3 (see antigens, CD3). (12 Dec 1998) |
| receptors, very late antigen | Members of the integrin family appearing late after T-cell activation. They are a family of proteins initially identified at the surface of stimulated T-cells, but now identified on a variety of cell types. At least six vla antigens have been identified as heterodimeric adhesion receptors consisting of a single common beta-subunit and different alpha-subunits. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Gerbich antigen | glycophorin C |
| Vi antigen | Virulence antigen, an external capsular antigen of enterobacteria formerly thought to be related to increased virulence. (05 Mar 2000) |