avidity

avidity
The binding strength of an antibody for an antigen. [L. avidus, greedy, eager fr. aveo, to crave]

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avid·i·ty (ə-vidґĭ-te) 1. the strength of an acid or a base. 2. the strength of binding between antibody and a complex antigen. Since the antigen has more than one determinant and many of the determinants differ from one another, avidity expresses the overall interaction between antigen and antibody; it is, however, greater than the sum of the affinities for the single determinants, since the effective multivalency of the antigen gives rise to a cooperative “bonus” effect. Often represented by constant Ka (the value of the association constant for the reaction Ab + Ag ⇄ AbAg). Avidity is a function of the techniques used in its measurement and can be expressed only in arbitrary units. Cf. affinity.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Avidity — A*vid i*ty, n. [L. aviditas, fr. avidus: cf. F. avidit[ e]. See {Avid}.] Greediness; strong appetite; eagerness; intenseness of desire; as, to eat with avidity. [1913 Webster] His books were received and read with avidity. Milward. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • avidity — (n.) mid 15c., eagerness, zeal, from O.Fr. avidite avidity, greed, from L. aviditatem (nom. aviditas) eagerness, avidity, noun of quality from avidus (see AVID (Cf. avid)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • avidity — index desire, greed, passion Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Avidity — In proteins, avidity is a term use to describe the combined strength of multiple bond interactions. Avidity is distinct from affinity, which is a term used to describe the strength of a single bond. As such, avidity is the combined synergistic… …   Wikipedia

  • avidity — noun a) Greediness; strong appetite. to eat with avidity b) Eagerness; intenseness of desire Come, walk up, and purchase with avidity,Overcome your diffidence and natural timidity. Syn: eagerness …   Wiktionary

  • avidity — avid ► ADJECTIVE ▪ keenly interested or enthusiastic. DERIVATIVES avidity noun avidly adverb. ORIGIN Latin avidus, from avere crave …   English terms dictionary

  • avidity — noun (plural ities) Date: 15th century 1. the quality or state of being avid: a. keen eagerness b. consuming greed 2. affinity 2b(2) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • avidity — the frequency of fishing activity, e.g. the number of days on which fishing trips were made …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • avidity — Strength of binding, usually of a small molecule with multiple binding sites by a larger; particularly the binding of a complex antigen by an antibody. (Affinityrefers to simple receptor ligand systems.) …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • avidity — /euh vid i tee/, n. 1. eagerness; greediness. 2. enthusiasm or dedication. [1400 50; late ME avidite < MF < L aviditas. See AVID, ITY] * * * …   Universalium

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