Forssman antigen

Forssman antigen
a heterophile antigen that induces production of antisheep hemolysin, found in a variety of different animals, mainly in organs and not in erythrocytes (guinea pig, horse); sometimes it is found only in erythrocytes (sheep), and occasionally in both organs and erythrocytes (chicken). In the original and strict sense, the antigen is typified by that found in the guinea pig kidney, characterized by heat stability and solubility in alcohol; the antigenic determinant is polysaccharide in nature. Its antibody is absorbed by tissues containing the antigen and contains no lysin for bovine cells and little or no agglutinin for sheep cells. The term has been broadened to refer loosely to any antigen producing sheep hemolysin, although antibodies to them may not be identical, as they are in the case of the true Forssman antigen.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • forssman antigen — noun Usage: usually capitalized F Etymology: after J. Forssman : an antigenic constituent occurring in animals without regard to biologic relationship (as one present in guinea pigs and sheep but absent from rabbit and cattle) : a heterophile… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Forssman antigen — A glycolipid heterophil antigen present on tissue cells of many species. It was first described for sheep red cells, and is not present on human, rabbit, rat, porcine or bovine cells …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • Forssman antibody — noun an antibody found in the blood of someone suffering from infectious mononucleosis • Syn: ↑heterophil antibody, ↑heterophile antibody • Hypernyms: ↑antibody * * * ˈfȯrsmən noun Usage: usually capitalized F Etymology …   Useful english dictionary

  • Forssman antibody — heterophile antibody directed against the Forssman antigen …   Medical dictionary

  • Forssman antibody antigen — Forss·man antibody, antigen (forsґmən) [John Forssman, Swedish pathologist, 1868–1947] see under antibody and antigen …   Medical dictionary

  • antigen — Any substance that, as a result of coming in contact with appropriate cells, induces a state of sensitivity and/or immune responsiveness after a latent period (days to weeks) and that reacts in a demonstrable way with antibodies and/or immune… …   Medical dictionary

  • Forssman — John, Swedish bacteriologist and pathologist, 1868–1947. See F. antibody, F. antigen, F. reaction, F. antigen antibody reaction. Hans, Swedish physician, *1912. See Börjeson F. Lehmann syndrome …   Medical dictionary

  • heterophil antigen — heterophile antigen any of a group of cross reacting antigens occurring in several species and having a species distribution that does not correspond to phylogenetic relationships, such as the Forssman antigen. Called also heterogenetic a …   Medical dictionary

  • reaction — 1. The response of a muscle or other living tissue or organism to a stimulus. 2. The color change effected in litmus and certain other organic pigments by contact with substances such as acids or alkalies; also the property that such substances… …   Medical dictionary

  • hapten — A molecule that is incapable, alone, of causing the production of antibodies but can, however, combine with a larger antigenic molecule called a carrier. A h. carrier complex can stimulate production of antibodies, some of which combine with the… …   Medical dictionary

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