The dynamics of the formation of virus-neutralizing, complement-fixing and immunofluorescent antibodies to the rabies virus in guinea pigs.

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to establish the dynamics of the formation of virus-neutralizing (VN), complement-fixing (CF) and immunofluorescent (IF) antibodies in guinea pig antisera or fractions (IgM, IgG, 7S γ-2 7S γ-1 and F-fraction) obtained by gel filtration on a G-200 Sephadex column, or by chromatography on DEAE cellulose. It was shown that (I) there exists a correlation between the development and titres of VN and IF antibodies. This correlation was observed in both whole serum and its fractions IgG, 7S γ-2 and 7S γ-1 during the whole experimental period. (2) The formation of CF antibodies, followed a different pattern in comparison with VN and IF antibodies. (3) VN, IF and CF antibodies were found to be bound to the IgG fraction, and most of the activity was found in subfraction 7S γ-2. The subfraction 7S γ-1 possessed approximately one half of the activity of fraction 7S γ-2 as regards VN and IF antibodies, and almost no activity of CF antibodies. (4) Both VN and CF antibodies, present in the IgM fraction, reached the maximum in the second blood sample, i.e. 14 days after the first dose of virulent virus. In the further course of the antibody response in guinea pigs, the curve of VN, IF and CF antibodies showed a reversed trend in the whole serum rather than in the IgM fraction.