A cryptotope is an
antigenic
In immunology, an antigen (Ag) is a molecule or molecular structure or any foreign particulate matter or a pollen grain that can bind to a specific antibody or T-cell receptor. The presence of antigens in the body may trigger an immune response. ...
site or
epitope hidden in a protein or virion by surface subunits. Cryptotopes are antigenically active only after the dissociation of
protein aggregates and virions Some infectious
pathogens are known to escape immunological targeting by
B-cells
B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or ...
by masking antigen-binding sites as cryptotopes.
A cryptotope can also be referred to as a cryptic
epitope.
Cryptotopes are becoming important for HIV vaccine research as a number of studies have shown that cryptic epitopes can be revealed or exposed when HIV gp120 binds to CD4.
References
Immune system
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