The Influence of the A-Like Substance of Rabbits on Their Immune Response to Human Blood-Group A-Substance

Abstract

Purified human blood group A substance from ovarian cysts may be rendered fully antigenic in rabbits by immunising with a streptococcal vaccine in which the organisms are “coated” with the substance. Specific precipitating antibody is obtained both in rabbits whose tissues contain A-like substance, and in rabbits which lack this substance. Evidence is presented that the antibodies produced by the two types of rabbit differ sharply in both specificity and serologic characteristics. Antibody obtained by this method in rabbits whose tissues contain A-like substance cannot be obtained by immunizing with human group-A red cells. The relationship of these findings to the problem of auto-antibody production is discussed.