The Secretory Antibody Response. Anti-DNP Antibodies Induced by Dinitrophenylated Type III Pneumococcus

Abstract

Dinitrophenylated (DNP) type III pneumococcus has been used as an antigenic probe to study secretory antibody induction. Rabbits were stimulated by intra-mammary injections, oral feeding or combinations of these protocols. Serum, milk and purified secretory IgA fractions were analyzed for the presence of anti-DNP antibodies. Local (intramammary) as well as oral immunization (gastrointestinal stimulation) were equally effective at inducing specific secretory IgA antibodies in mammary tissue. These findings are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms responsible for secretory IgA antibody induction.