Antigenic determinant

A surface feature of a microorganism or macromolecule, such as a glycoprotein, that elicits an immune response.

The individual surface feature of an antigen, that elicits the production of a specific antibody in the course of the immune response. Each antigenic determinant, typically a few amino acids in size, causes the synthesis of a different antibody and thus exposure to a single antigen may result in the expression of a number of antibodies. See: monoclonal antibody, polyclonal antibody. Synonym: epitope.