Having the properties of an antigen.
- a. competition — the immune response to an antigen may be reduced if an unrelated antigen is administered simultaneously or shortly before. These may be between different molecules (intermolecular) or different determinants on the same molecule (intramolecular).
- a. drift — point mutations in genes resulting in antigenic change. See also orthomyxoviridae.
- a. mimicry — similarities between sequences found in microbial proteins and host proteins which may result in cross-reacting immune responses and autoimmune disease.
- a. shift — genetic reassortment between two subtypes of a viral species resulting in a new subtype with completely different antigenicity. See also orthomyxoviridae.
