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Antigen

By Nancy Lapid, About.com

Updated July 28, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: An antigen is a substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight antigens).

In other words, an antigen is a substance that the immune system “sees” as dangerous or harmful; in response, the immune system develops antibodies to fight the antigen.

Pronunciation: an-tidg-un
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