Agglutination (biology)
In Immunology, the agglutination is the formation of a complex immune between particulate antigens and the agglutinant specific antibodies. This complex immune is visible with the naked eye in the form of cluster.
It is a mechanism of agglutination which made it possible to discover the blood groups. In the presence of an antibody, the érythrocyte S instead of remaining separate in the Blood plasma, stick the ones to the others and form agglutinats visible with the naked eye. It is the basic technique of the Immuno-hematology, for the determination of the blood groups and irregular Anticorps seeks it.
Two theories give an account of this mechanism:
- the theory of the bridges, a Immunoglobulin being hung by its two sites antibodies to two érythrocytes different.
- the theory of the Potential zeta. The Antibody, Amphoteric protein , specifically fixed at the surface of the érythrocyte, neutralizes the electronegative loads of the carboxylate radicals (COO - ) and allows the bringing together of the érythrocytes which bind thanks to the forces of surface Tension, of van der Waals.
This same mechanism of agglutination is used to typify certain micro-organisms using specific antibodies.