hapten

American  

[hap-ten] / ˈhæp tɛn /

Also haptene

noun

Immunology.

1. a substance having a single antigenic determinant that can react with a previously existing antibody but cannot stimulate more antibody production unless combined with other molecules; a partial antigen.

---

hapten British  

/ ˈhæptiːn, ˈhæptən /

noun

1. immunol an incomplete antigen that can stimulate antibody production only when it is chemically combined with a particular protein

---

Etymology

Origin of hapten

1920–25; < German < Greek hápt ( ein ) to grasp + German -en -ene

Example Sentences

In this study, the scientists combined a xylazine hapten with multiple different protein types, to see which combination would create a robust immune response against xylazine.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2024

He and his co-workers have carefully crafted all aspects of their vaccine: hapten, carrier and adjuvant.

From The Guardian • Aug. 26, 2017

To overcome that, Dr. Janda attaches a hapten — which is either a bit of the drug itself, or a synthetic version of it — to a larger protein that acts as a platform.

From New York Times • Oct. 3, 2011

Once built, they attached the new hapten molecules to carrier proteins, mixed them with adjuvant, injected the results into mice and waited.

From Economist • May 19, 2011

Injected into a pregnant woman whose Rh-negative blood has formed antibodies against the incompatible blood of her unborn Rh-positive baby, hapten protects the baby's blood, and allows him to be born in normal health.

From Time Magazine Archive