Haptens

Haptens are small molecules that can cause an immune response upon binding to carrier proteins. They are typically non-immunogenic molecules, meaning they cannot directly trigger an immune response by themselves. However, when they are bound to carrier proteins, they become immunogenic and can trigger an immune response. Haptens are used in various medical applications, including cancer vaccines and allergy testing. They are also used in diagnostics to measure the antibodies present in a sample. By allowing for the detection and diagnosis of diseases and allergic reactions, haptens play a critical role in modern medicine.