The Difference Between an Antigen and an Immunogen is That

Question

The difference between an antigen and an immunogen is that:
A)An immunogen will possess epitopes while an antigen will not
B)An immunogen will stimulate innate or adaptive immunity,while an antigen will stimulate innate defenses only
C)An immunogen will stimulate innate or adaptive immunity,while an antigen will stimulate adaptive defenses only
D)An antigen will stimulate innate or adaptive immunity,while an immunogen will stimulate innate defenses only
E)An antigen will stimulate innate or adaptive immunity,while an immunogen will stimulate adaptive defenses only

Accepted Answer

An antigen is any substance that can bind to antibodies or antigen receptors on immune cells. An immunogen, on the other hand, is an antigen that is capable of inducing an immune response. Therefore, an immunogen can stimulate both innate and adaptive immunity, while an antigen can only stimulate innate defenses unless it possesses properties that enable it to be recognized by adaptive immune cells. Thus, option C is the correct answer.