noun
- a small organic molecule that can bind to a larger protein or carrier molecule to form an antigen and trigger an immune response
Usage: chemistry; immunology; also spelled 'hapten'
Examples
- The drug acts as a haptene when it binds to blood proteins in the body.
- Researchers used a haptene conjugate to develop a new vaccine.
- Small haptenes cannot elicit an immune response on their own without a carrier protein.
- The haptene-protein complex was injected to test antibody production.
- Understanding haptene chemistry is essential in immunology and drug development.