Specificity of Antisera from Lewis Rats Immunized with Encephalitogenic Fragment 43–88 of Guinea Pig Myelin Basic Protein

Abstract

Inbred Lewis rats were immunized with encephalitogenic fragment 43–88 of guinea pig myelin basic protein emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. After recovery from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) the animals were given a booster immunization, bled, and the specificity of the individual anti-fragment anti-sera was examined by direct binding assays by using radioiodinated fragment 43–88 and peptides 43–67, 68–88, and 79–88. Competitive-binding experiments with these peptides in competition with labeled fragment 43–88 were also done. The results of these experiments indicated that the immunodominant region of fragment 43–88 was the carboxy-terminal half of the molecule. Individual antisera recognized different antigenic determinants within this region.