idiotypes

Noun

idiotype (plural idiotypes)

1. A characteristic shared by a group of immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor molecules, based on the antigen-binding specificity of their variable region; and thus, the resultant immunologic phenotype, which can often be specific to a person or to only a small percentage of people.
   • PD mice also lacked serum Ig of 3-83 specificity (3-83 idiotype).2000 March 31, Valerie Kouskoff et al., “T Cell-Independent Rescue of B Lymphocytes from Peripheral Immune Tolerance”, in Science, volume 287, number 5462, →DOI, pages 2501–2503