title: Theoretical analysis of the reaction of multivalent antigen with heterogeneous antibody: a model of soluble phase antibody assays.
abstract: The theoretical characteristics of soluble phase antibody assays were analyzed using a computer model of antigen-antibody interaction which allowed antibody to be heterogeneous and antigen multivalent. Studies show that when antibody is heterogeneous with respect to affinity, the high affinity antibody will usually mask the low affinity antibody. If the reaction of multivalent antigen with multispecific antibody is studied in antigen excess, the reaction closely approximates a one to one binding reaction. Several characteristics of the soluble phase antibody assay are determined by the affinity-antigen product or the product of the antibody affinity constant multiplied by the molar antigen concentration. When the product is high, the sensitivity of the assay will vary with antigen concentration and titers will be independent of antibody affinity. If the affinity-antigen product is low, sensitivity is dependent upon antibody affinity and titers will reflect antibody affinity as well as antibody concentration.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000939:Epitopes; D008954:Models, Biological; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000939:Epitopes