Immunogen: meaning, definitions and examples

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immunogen

 

[ ɪˈmjunəˌdʒɛn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

biology, medicine

An immunogen is a substance that induces an immune response in the body. It is often a type of antigen that the immune system recognizes as foreign and triggers the production of antibodies. Immunogens can be components like proteins, polysaccharides, or nucleic acids.

Synonyms

antigen, immunizing agent, vaccinogen

Examples of usage

  • Vaccines often contain immunogens to stimulate immunity.
  • The body responds to the immunogen by activating T cells.
  • Certain pathogens are strong immunogens that elicit a robust immune response.

Translations

Translations of the word "immunogen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 imunógeno

🇮🇳 इम्यूनोजेन

🇩🇪 Immunogen

🇮🇩 imunogen

🇺🇦 імуноген

🇵🇱 immunogen

🇯🇵 免疫原

🇫🇷 immunogène

🇪🇸 inmunógeno

🇹🇷 immunojen

🇰🇷 면역원

🇸🇦 مُولِّد المناعة

🇨🇿 imunogen

🇸🇰 imunogén

🇨🇳 免疫原

🇸🇮 imunogen

🇮🇸 ónæmisefni

🇰🇿 иммуноген

🇬🇪 იმუნოგენი

🇦🇿 immunogen

🇲🇽 inmunógeno

Etymology

The term 'immunogen' derives from the combination of 'immune,' relating to the immune system, and 'gen,' which comes from the Greek word 'genes' meaning 'to produce' or 'to generate.' The concept began to take shape in the field of immunology in the early 20th century when scientists started to understand how the body’s immune system responds to foreign substances. Over the years, immunogens have been studied extensively in relation to vaccines and the development of immunotherapies, leading to advancements in how we prevent and treat diseases. The significance of immunogens has grown as researchers continue to explore the complexities of the immune response and its applications in medicine.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,400, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.