Immunochemical Studies of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Abstract

Summary Guinea pig antisera for foot-and-mouth disease virus (140 S), virus protein subunit (12 S) and the virus infection-associated (VIA) antigen were prepared by immunization with the isolated antigenic components or by infection, and made specific by absorption procedures. Guinea pigs immunized with purified inactivated 140 S antigen also produced antibody to the 12 S antigen which necessitated absorption with 12 S antigen. Similarly, guinea pigs immunized with purified 12 S antigen developed antibody to 140 S antigen which was removed by absorption with 140 S antigen. Antiserum specific for VIA antigen was prepared by absorbing serum from infected guinea pigs with both 140 S and 12 S antigens. Quantitative precipitin analyses were performed with the 12 S and 140 S antigens. However, interpretation of the results was complicated by the finding that 12 S antigen precipitated some of the antibody reactive with 140 S antigen, and that 140 S antigen removed a portion of the antibody reactive with the 12 S antigen. Evaluation of the immunization and precipitin analyses indicated that some antigenic relationship exists between the 140 S and 12 S components, the nature of which has yet to be resolved.