EFFECT OF ADJUVANTS ON BIOSYNTHESIS OF 19S AND 7S ANTIBODY AGAINST BACTERIOPHAGE PHICHI174 IN GUINEA-PIG

Abstract

Guinea pigs given a single injection of bacteriophage [PHI]X174 produced 19S antibody 8 days later. The levels of 19S antibody were not significantly different in animals injected with bacteriophage in water-in-oil emulsions with and without added mycobacteria, in bento-nite or in saline alone. On the other hand, while both 7S[gamma]1- and [gamma]2-immunoglobulin antibodies were present 21 days after a single injection of bacteriophage [PHI]X174 in saline alone, the addition of water-in-oil emulsions to the injection mixture led to enhanced levels of 7S antibody and the addition of mycobacteria to these emulsions increased 7S antibody levels still further. Delayed hypersensitivity reactions were detected by corneal testing in a proportion of the guinea pigs injected with bacteriophage in water-in-oil emulsions whether or not mycobacteria were also present in the mixture. Guinea pigs immunized with bacteriophage in saline showed negative corneal tests.