Let me share with you a difference between antigen and antibody.
| Aspect | Antigen | Antibody |
| Introduction | Antigen is a foreign substance, often a protein that induces an immune response. | Antibody is a proteins produced by the immune system in response to antigens |
| Category | · Proteins
· Lipids · Carbohydrates · Nucleic acids |
· Proteins (immunoglobulins) |
| Origin | · Can be foreign (from pathogens) · Self (from the body’s own cells) |
· Produced by B cells |
| Specificity | Can be specific or nonspecific, depending on the type of antigen | Highly specific as each antibody is designed to bind to a specific antigen |
| Structure | Diverse structures based on the type of molecule (proteins, lipids, etc.) | Y-shaped structure with two identical antigen-binding sites at the tips of the arms |
| Types | · Bacterial cell surface proteins
· viral proteins · Pollen proteins |
· IgG
· IgM · IgA · IgD · IgE |
| Transfer | Inherited from both parents, with some degree of variation | Not inherited but transferred from mother to baby through breast milk during breastfeeding |