Antibody Affinity (also known as Affinity, Antibody, Affinities, Antibody): A measure of the binding strength between antibody and a simple hapten or antigen determinant. It depends on the closeness of stereochemical fit between antibody combining sites and antigen determinants, on the size of the area of contact betwe

NIH MeSH · D000915Phenomena and Processes

Antibody Affinity

Also known asAffinity, Antibody · Affinities, Antibody · Antibody Affinities · Antibody Avidity · Antibody Avidities · Avidities, Antibody · Avidity, Antibody

Definition

A measure of the binding strength between antibody and a simple hapten or antigen determinant. It depends on the closeness of stereochemical fit between antibody combining sites and antigen determinants, on the size of the area of contact between them, and on the distribution of charged and hydrophobic groups. It includes the concept of avidity, which refers to the strength of the antigen-antibody bond after formation of reversible complexes.

MeSH classification

  • G12.040
  • G12.122.125

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Related concepts

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Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity

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Antibody-Dependent Enhancement

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Antibody Diversity

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Antibody Formation

The production of ANTIBODIES by proliferating and differentiated B-LYMPHOCYTES under stimulation by ANTIGENS.

Antibody Specificity

The property of antibodies which enables them to react with some ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS and not with others. Specificity is dependent on che…

Antigen-Antibody Reactions

The processes triggered by interactions of ANTIBODIES with their ANTIGENS.

Common questions about Antibody Affinity

What does Antibody Affinity mean in medicine?
A measure of the binding strength between antibody and a simple hapten or antigen determinant. It depends on the closeness of stereochemical fit between antibody combining sites and antigen determinants, on the size of the area of contact between them, and on the distribution of charged and hydrophobic groups. It includes the concept of avidity, which refers to the strength of the antigen-antibody bond after formation of reversible complexes. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Antibody Affinity known by any other names?
Yes. Antibody Affinity is also referred to as Affinity, Antibody, Affinities, Antibody, Antibody Affinities, Antibody Avidity in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Antibody Affinity sit in the medical classification?
Antibody Affinity falls under the broader medical category "Phenomena and Processes" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: G12.040, G12.122.125). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Antibody Affinity?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000915) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗