QS-21
QS-21
QS-21 (pronounced: Q-S-twenty-one) is a saponin derived from the bark of the Quillaja saponaria tree, commonly known as the soap bark tree. It is used as an adjuvant in vaccines to enhance the body's immune response.
Etymology
The term "QS-21" is derived from the name of the tree it is extracted from, Quillaja saponaria, and the number 21, which is an arbitrary number assigned during the process of its identification and isolation.
Usage
QS-21 is used as an adjuvant in vaccines. An adjuvant is a substance that is added to a vaccine to enhance the body's immune response to the vaccine. QS-21 has been used in vaccines for diseases such as malaria, HIV, and cancer.
Related Terms
- Saponin: A class of chemical compounds found in particular abundance in various plant species. They have soap-like properties and are used in vaccines as adjuvants.
- Adjuvant: A substance that enhances the body's immune response to an antigen.
- Quillaja saponaria: A tree species in the family Quillajaceae, native to warm temperate regions of South America. It is known as the soap bark tree because of the saponins found in its bark.
- Malaria: A mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals.
- HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that attacks the body's immune system.
- Cancer: A group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on QS-21
- Wikipedia's article - QS-21
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