Multiple antibody components of rabbit antisera against p-azobenzenearsonate (R(p)) were studied with respect to their globulin nature and skin-sensitizing activity. IgA antibody was characterized by isolating two IgA-rich fractions from a specifically purified antibody preparation. Examination of these fractions showed that IgA antibodies existed in two molecular forms, one with a sedimentation constant of 7S and the other 9S. Skin-sensitizing activity was examined by a P-K type test and a PCA test with R(p)-rabbit serum albumin in homologous (rabbit) species. Only the 7S but not 9S IgA antibody sensitized rabbit skin. IgM antibody showed no activity and IgG antibody showed very low activity. In contrast, only IgG antibody was active in the P-K type test to sensitize a heterologous species (guinea pig). None of the antibodies of other classes showed sensitizing activity in heterologous skin. The 7S IgA antibody lost its sensitizing activity upon reduction and alkylation, although no change in its molecular size could be observed. The loss of sensitizing activity was not due to the destruction of antigen-binding activity since the treated 7S IgA antibody retained this activity as shown by radioimmunoelectrophoresis and by binding to the specific immunoadsorbent. The 9S IgA antibody was more resistant to these treatments than the IgM antibody and showed no indication of dissociation. The treated 9S IgA also retained antigen-binding activity. Both the P-K type and PCA reactions were considerably stronger when the interval between injections of antibody and antigen was 24 hr rather than 4 to 5 hr.

Animals↗

PubMed1966

Patterns of human antibody reactions in coccidioidomycosis.

Sawaki, Y. (Veterans Administration Hospital, San Fernando, Calif.), M. Huppert, J. W. Bailey, and Y. Yagi. Patterns of human antibody reactions in coccidioidomycosis. J. Bacteriol. 91:422-427. 1966.-At least two antigen-antibody systems in coccidioidomycosis have been demonstrated by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis, including the use of I(131)-coccidioidin. Sera which were positive in the conventional complement-fixation (CF) test, but negative in the tube precipitin (TP) test, yielded only one line of precipitate in the immunodiffusion test. In immunoelectrophoresis, also, there was only one precipitate arc which appeared in the gamma(2)-globulin region. On the other hand, sera which were positive in both CF and TP tests yielded two different lines in the immunodiffusion test. In immunoelectrophoresis, also, there were two precipitate arcs: one in the gamma(2)-globulin region and the other in the gamma(1)-globulin area. Radioimmunoelectrophoresis demonstrated that the antibody activity in IG-G globulin, roughly parallels the CF titer. A similar correlation existed between the IG-M antibody activity and the TP reactivity. Antibody activity was present in the IG-A globulin but it did not reflect either CF or TP activity.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1966