Phenomena and Processes

Antibody Affinity

A measure of the binding strength between antibody and a simple hapten or antigen determinant. It depends on the closeness of stereochemical fit between antibody combining sites and antigen determinants, on the size of the area of contact between them, and on the distribution of charged and hydrophobic groups. It includes the concept of avidity, which refers to the strength of the antigen-antibody bond after formation of reversible complexes.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A measure of the binding strength between antibody and a simple hapten or antigen determinant. It depends on the closeness of stereochemical fit between antibody combining sites and antigen determinants, on the size of the area of contact between them, and on the distribution of charged and hydrophobic groups. It includes the concept of avidity, which refers to the strength of the antigen-antibody bond after formation of reversible complexes.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Affinity, Antibody
  • Affinities, Antibody
  • Antibody Affinities
  • Antibody Avidity
  • Avidity, Antibody
  • Antibody Avidities
  • Avidities, Antibody

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

6 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, ethics, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

do not confuse with BINDING SITES, ANTIBODY or ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS

MeSH Record

History Note

79

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Antibodies (1966-1978)
  • Antigen-Antibody Reactions (1966-1978)
  • Antigenic Determinants (1970-1978)
  • Binding Sites, Antibody (1973-1978)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G12.040
  2. G12.122.125

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QW 570

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Antibody Affinity. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000915. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000915
  2. Antibody Affinity. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q71160042