[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fxLN3MUwXCdr5RPjwZYIDpOj8CHyjOmngWTgoKXPtZbg":3,"$ffURZNxG-olioMHnY2lPceBYkE6L8XKucxB9z8B2Fsz0":32,"$f3Ft0rKFJHppdzE-vuveecxx1BUcg9iOlMLtyzf_MJDg":47},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28],{"title":5,"slug":6,"path":7},"About Microbeonline.com","about-microbeonline-com","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002F",{"title":9,"slug":10,"path":11},"About Me","about-me","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002Fabout-me\u002F",{"title":13,"slug":14,"path":15},"Advertise with Us","advertise-us","\u002Fadvertise-us\u002F",{"title":17,"slug":18,"path":19},"Privacy Policy","privacy-policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{"title":21,"slug":22,"path":23},"Abbreviations","abbreviations","\u002Fabbreviations\u002F",{"title":25,"slug":26,"path":27},"Microbes","microbes","\u002Fmicrobes\u002F",{"title":29,"slug":30,"path":31},"Books","recommended-books","\u002Frecommended-books\u002F",{"type":33,"data":34},"blog",{"slug":35,"title":36,"description":36,"seoTitle":37,"seoDescription":37,"author":38,"createdDate":39,"lastUpdatedDate":40,"draft":41,"category":42,"image":37,"body":43,"faq":44,"tags":45,"related":46},"heterophile-antigen","Heterophile Antigen: Examples, Diagnostic Applications",null,"Acharya Tankeshwar","2019-09-25","2025-12-29",false,"immunology","Common antigens (or antigens of similar nature) that are possessed by a variety of phylogenetically unrelated species are known as heterophile antigens.\n\nAntibodies induced by these antigens cross-react with individual heterophilic antigens, such [antibodies](\u002Fimmunoglobulin-structure\u002F) are known as **heterophile antibodies** i.e. antibodies produced against an antigen of one species can react with the other and vice versa.\n\n> The term heterophile antibody applies to antibodies having the capacity to react with certain antigens, which are quite different from, and phylogenetically unrelated to the one which evoked antibody response.\n\nHeterophile antigens are involved in the pathogenesis of certain diseases, such as infectious mononucleosis, rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, etc.\n\nAntigen of [Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (*Streptococcus pyogenes)*](\u002Fstreptococcus-pyogens-gas-common-characteristics-virulence-factors-diseases-key-tests\u002F) and antigens of the human myocardium are heterophilic. So in rheumatic fever, antibodies against group A streptococcal cell walls cross-react with human cardiolipin antigens and thus damage human heart tissues.\n\n![Heterophile antigen](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fheterophile-antigen-testing.jpg)Figure: Heterophile antigen\n\n**Forssman antigen** is another example of heterophile antigen. It is a lipid carbohydrate complex (glycolipid) widely distributed in man, animals, birds, plants and bacteria. Forssman antigen was named after the Swedish pathologist **John F. Forssman** who reported, *‘antibodies produced in rabbits against organ homogenates from guinea pigs reacted with sheep erythrocytes, causing hemolysis’.*\n\n#### Diagnostic Applications of Heterophilic Test\n\nHeterophilic antigens can be used in various serologic tests. Antibody against one antigen can be detected in the patient’s serum by employing a different antigen which is heterophile (cross-reactive) to the first antigen.\n\n- [Weil-Felix reaction:](\u002Fweil-felix-test-principle-procedure-limitation\u002F) Used for the diagnosis of typhus fever.  Antibodies produced against Rickettsial antigens are detected by using cross-reacting *Proteus* antigen.\n- **Paul-Bunnell test (Monospot test)**:  It is a rapid test for the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis (a disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus). In this test, sheep red blood cell antigens are used to detect cross-reacting antibodies in patient’s sera. Heterophile antibodies if present agglutinate sheep erythrocytes.\n- **Cold agglutinin test:** Patient suffering from primary atypical pneumonia caused by *Mycoplasma pneumoniae* produces antibodies that cross-reacts with human O blood group RBC. Agglutination of human O group erythrocytes at 4‎°C by the sera of suspected patient sample confirms the diagnosis.  Alternatively in *Streptococcus* MG test, such antibodies are detected using *Streptococcus* MG antigens.\n\n**References**\n\n1. Votava, M., Bartosová, D., Krchnáková, A., Crhová, K., & Kubinová, L. (1996). Diagnostic importance of heterophile antibodies and immunoglobulins IgA, IgE, IgM and low-avidity IgG against Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen in children. *Acta virologica*, *40*(2), 99–101.\n2. Niculescu, F., Rus, H. G., Maican, A., & Petcovici, M. (1989). Anticorpii heterofili \\[Heterophile antibodies\\]. *Revista de igiena, bacteriologie, virusologie, parazitologie, epidemiologie, pneumoftiziologie. Bacteriologia, virusologia, parazitologia, epidemiologia*, *34*(2), 107–112.",[],[],[],[48,54,61,66,70,74,79,84,88,92],{"slug":49,"name":38,"description":50,"image":51,"body":52,"postCount":53},"acharya-tankeshwar","Editor-in-chief","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Ftankeshwar-acharya-author-microbeonline.jpg","***Tankeshwar Acharya, MSc (Medical Microbiology)***\n\n*Tankeshwar Acharya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal, where he has been teaching and practicing clinical microbiology for over 14 years. He is the founder of Microbe Online, one of the leading free microbiology education resources on the web, covering bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and clinical laboratory diagnostics written from direct experience in both the classroom and the diagnostic laboratory.*",433,{"slug":55,"name":56,"description":57,"image":58,"body":59,"postCount":60},"ashma-shrestha","Ashma Shrestha","SEO Copywriter and Science Communicator\nKathmandu, Nepal","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Fashma-shrestha.png","Ashma Shrestha holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology from the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, where she developed a strong foundation in virology, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology.\n\nShe now works as an SEO Copywriter at Resolution Digital, where she combines her scientific training with research-driven content strategy. She is certified in Google Analytics and Google Business Profile (GBP), and brings a data-informed approach to science communication writing content that is not only accurate but structured to reach and serve the students who need it most.\n\nAt microbeonline, Ashma contributes articles primarily in virology and molecular biology, areas she finds most compelling for their mechanistic depth and their growing clinical relevance. Her writing reflects the same standard the site is built on: factual rigor, clear explanation of the *why* behind microbiology concepts, and content that helps students move from memorization to genuine understanding.\n\nShe is passionate about making complex microbiological concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy; a skill that sits at the intersection of her scientific training and her professional work in content and SEO.",81,{"slug":62,"name":63,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":65},"sushmita-baniya","Sushmita Baniya","Author \u002F Contributor",32,{"slug":67,"name":68,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":69},"samikshya-acharya","Samikshya Acharya",20,{"slug":71,"name":72,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":73},"alisha-tripathi","Alisha Tripathi",6,{"slug":75,"name":76,"description":77,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":78},"aastha-shrestha","Aastha Shrestha"," Author \u002F Contributor",10,{"slug":80,"name":81,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":83},"guest-author","Guest Author","Guest Author \u002F Contributor",2,{"slug":85,"name":86,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":87},"srijana-khanal","Srijana Khanal",18,{"slug":89,"name":90,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":91},"dr-poonam-acharya","Dr. Poonam Acharya",1,{"slug":93,"name":94,"description":64,"image":37,"body":95,"postCount":96},"nisha-rijal","Nisha Rijal","**Nisha Rijal** is a microbiologist and quality assurance specialist. She served for nearly 12 years as a microbiologist at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Nepal's national reference laboratory, and continues to work as a consultant microbiologist in international public health organization. ",51]