Elicitation of Rabbit Antiidiotypic Antibodies by Immunization with the IgG Fraction of Hyperimmune Antiserum

Abstract

Abstract Antiidiotypic antibodies directed to rabbit antibenzoate antibodies were elicited in rabbits by immunization with the polymerized IgG fraction of hyperimmune antibenzoate antiserum. Idiotypic specificity was demonstrated by the failure of the antiserum to react with preimmune serum, with hyperimmune serum depleted of antibenzoate antibody, or with hyperimmune antibenzoate antisera from other rabbits. Immunization with IgG represents a simple and efficient method for elicitation of antiidiotypic antibody. A very small amount of specifically purified antihapten antibody is required to test antiidiotypic antisera by the method of indirect precipitation. Immunization with IgG simultaneously induced the formation of substantial amounts of antiidiotypic antibodies directed to the protein carrier. In addition anti-antibodies were formed that reacted with other, unknown components (presumably antibodies) in the IgG fraction. In one rabbit these other antibodies were present in the preimmune serum. Antiidiotypic antibodies directed to the antiprotein carrier and antihapten antibodies were shown to be distinct from one another by immunoadsorption experiments.