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The difference between affinity and avidity of antibodyAffinity and avidity are two terms used in immunology and microbiology to describe binding strength between an antibody and antigen. Affinity represents the binding strength between one paratope and one epitope. The antigen binds to the epitope through a variety of different types of bonds such as Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, Van der Waals interactions and electrostatic forces. While avidity represents the combined strength of all binding sites on a single antibody molecule. i.e. The total strength of all the non-covalent interactions between an antibody binding to its ligand/s. It is determined by three parameters:
The binding affinity of the complex
The valency of the proteins
The structural arrangement of the proteins in the complex.