Definitions for "Superantigen"
Investigators have proposed that a molecule known as a superantigen, either made by HIV or an unrelated agent, may stimulate massive quantities of CD4+ T cells at once, rendering them highly susceptible to HIV infection and subsequent cell death. See also Antigen; CD4 (T4) or CD4+ Cells.
An antigen that activates a large percentage of T-lymphocytes.
a viral or bacterial antigen that triggers an immune response from a large number of immune cells (e.g., T-cells) which express a variety of different major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules.