Agglutination (biology)
Agglutination (biology)
Agglutination (pronunciation: /əˌɡlo͞otnˈāSH(ə)n/) is a process in biology where particles, such as bacteria, cells, or large molecules, clump together usually in response to specific antibody known as an agglutinin.
Etymology
The term "agglutination" comes from the Latin word "agglutinare" which means "to glue together".
Process
In the process of agglutination, an antigen (foreign substance) is mixed with its corresponding antibody called agglutinin. This reaction results in the formation of a visible clump. Agglutination is commonly used in immunology to study the immune response of an organism and in blood typing.
Types of Agglutination
There are several types of agglutination, including:
- Hemagglutination: This is the process by which red blood cells agglutinate, or clump together. It is commonly used in blood typing to determine a person's blood type.
- Bacterial agglutination: This occurs when bacteria clump together, usually in response to a specific antibody. It is often used in diagnostic tests for certain types of infections.
- Latex agglutination: This is a laboratory method used to detect the presence of specific antigens or antibodies in a sample. It involves the agglutination of latex particles that have been coated with an antigen or antibody.
Related Terms
- Antigen
- Antibody
- Immunology
- Blood typing
- Hemagglutination
- Bacterial agglutination
- Latex agglutination
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Agglutination (biology)
- Wikipedia's article - Agglutination (biology)
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