The Molecules of HIV

Note: this site last updated in 2006

MHC

An article from "The Molecules of HIV" (c) Dan Stowell
www.mcld.co.uk/hiv

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) refers to the set of genes in an organism which specify "major histocompatibility antigens":

Antigen because the proteins produced can induce immune reactions;
Histocompatibility because these immune reactions are observed in graft rejection and other such situations;
and Major because the immune reactions are fast (e.g. within 7 days).

In human, the MHC proteins are called Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) proteins.

Written by
Dan Stowell
(©2002-2006)