Antibody binding to a pathogen surface is greatly enhanced when both antigen-binding sites of the antibody are engaged at once, a feature known as bivalent binding. It is possible for antibodies to bind bivalently to a wide variety of components on many different pathogen surfaces due to the flexibility in the protein at the hinge region and at the V-C junction.

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Bivalent binding is indeed a feature of antibodies that allows for enhanced binding to pathogen surfaces. This is made possible by the flexibility in the protein at the hinge region and at the V-C junction, enabling antibodies to bind bivalently to a wide variety of pathogen components.

Antibody Binding to a Pathogen Surface Is Greatly Enhanced When