The Specificity of Antibodies to Antigens Containing Two Different Determinant Groups

Abstract

Summary: Immunization of rabbits with complex antigens containing simultaneously p-azo-phenyl-arsonic and m-azo-phenyl-sulfonic groups furnishes immune sera whose antibodies are precipitated quantitatively by subsequent addition of arsanil-azo-globulin and metanil-azo-globulin. No precipitate was produced by further addition of the homologous arsanil-metanil-azo-globulin. Immunization of rabbits with complex antigens containing simultaneously azo-phenyl-arsonic groups and di-iodo-tyrosin groups gives rise to the production of immune sera whose antibodies are precipitated quantitatively by the subsequent addition of arsanil-azo-protein and iodo-protein. No further precipitate is produced by the addition of the complex arsanil-azo-iodo-protein. An immune serum with the same properties is produced by the injection of a mixture of arsanil-azo-globulin and iodo-globulin into rabbits. Our experiments demonstrate that immunization with a complex antigen AB containing two kinds of determinant groups A and B leads to the formation of antibodies of the type anti-A and anti-B. No indication for the presence of anti-A-B was found. This supports the assumption that antibodies are of a single specificity.