Major antigenic determinant

Penicillins and cephalosporins bind irreversibly to serum albumin. It has been shown that drug-protein conjugates result from the aminolysis of the /3-lactam bond by the e-amino group of lysine residues in the protein (Fig. 5.1, Pathway e). The bound penicilloyl group appears to be the major antigenic determinant of penicillin allergy [145-148],... 

FIGURE 16.10 Hapten determinants formed by penicillins that contain a p-lactam ring linked to various side chains (R). The primary route of haptenation involves acylation of the E-amino group of lysine residues of serum or cell surface proteins to form a penicilloyl or major antigenic determinant. Isomerization of penicillin leads to the generation of compounds that form disulfide bonds wdth the cysteine sulfhydryl groups of proteins. These epitopes are termed minor determinants. 

A variety of glycans with important stmctural and functional roles are produced as part of bacteria cell walls. Capsular polysaccharides (CPS), teichoic acids, and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are the three most important and represent the bacterial first line of defense against complement and bacteriophages. The carbohydrate portion of this glycoconjugate contains the major antigenic determinants that distinguish various serotypes of bacteria [1]. 

R-type LPS, S-type LPS has an 0-antigen, which consists ofup to 50 repeated units, attached to the core region. 0-antigens contain the major antigenic determinants that distinguish various serotypes of bacteria, which may... 

Chiorazzi N, Eshhar Z, Katz DH (1976) Induction of immunological tolerance to the major antigenic determinant of penicillin a therapeutic approach to penicillin allergy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 73 2091-2095... 

Bacterial cells express an enormous variety of polysaccharide structures. These entities are usually found protruding from the outer membrane and iiK lude exopolysaccharide (EPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The polysaccharide components have important structural and functional roles in the life of a bacterial cell. They represent the first line of defense against complement and bacteriophages. They also contain the major antigen determinants that distinguish various serotypes of bacteria, which are sometimes correlated with disease. 

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