ANTIPRECIPITIN Meaning and
Definition
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Antiprecipitin is a term used in immunology to denote a substance that counteracts or inhibits the formation of precipitates in the presence of an antigen-antibody complex. Precipitates are insoluble complexes that form when an antigen (a foreign substance that stimulates an immune response) combines with its corresponding antibody (a protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen).
Antiprecipitins can be naturally occurring substances or artificially produced compounds. These substances act by binding to either the antigen or the antibody, thereby preventing the formation of a precipitate. By inhibiting precipitate formation, antiprecipitins are useful in various diagnostic tests, such as immunodiffusion assays, which detect the presence of specific antibodies or antigens in a biological sample.
Apart from their diagnostic applications, antiprecipitins are also studied for their therapeutic potential. They may be used to treat certain immune-related disorders, where preventing antigen-antibody precipitates can help alleviate symptoms or halt disease progression. Additionally, antiprecipitins are employed in various research settings to study the interactions between antigens and antibodies and to investigate immune responses.
In summary, antiprecipitin refers to a substance that hinders the formation of insoluble precipitates in the presence of antigen-antibody complexes. These substances are utilized in diagnostic tests, therapeutics, and research to study immune responses and their associated disorders.
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A specific antibody inhibiting the action of a precipitin.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ANTIPRECIPITIN
- zntiprecipitin
- sntiprecipitin
- wntiprecipitin
- qntiprecipitin
- abtiprecipitin
- amtiprecipitin
- ajtiprecipitin
- ahtiprecipitin
- anriprecipitin
- anfiprecipitin
- angiprecipitin
- anyiprecipitin
- an6iprecipitin
- an5iprecipitin
- antuprecipitin
- antjprecipitin
- antkprecipitin
- antoprecipitin
- ant9precipitin
- ant8precipitin
Etymology of ANTIPRECIPITIN
The word "antiprecipitin" is derived from the combination of two terms - "anti-" and "precipitin".
The prefix "anti-" comes from the Greek word "anti", meaning "against" or "opposite". It is commonly used in English to indicate opposition, counteraction, or negation. In scientific contexts, "anti-" is often used to describe substances or processes that counteract or inhibit the action of another substance.
The term "precipitin" is a noun that refers to an antibody that can cause the precipitation of an antigen-antibody complex in a solution. "Precipitin" is derived from the word "precipitate", which comes from the Latin word "praecipitare", meaning "throw down" or "fall headlong".
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