ALTEX :: Alternatives to Animal Experiments

1996, Supplement

Kinetics of IgY Formation After Immunization of Hens with Different Protein Antigens

Ingrid Behn1, Undine Hommel1, Michael Oertel2 and Sunna Hauschildt1

1 University of Leipzig, Institute of Zoology/Immunobiology; 2University of Leipzig, Medical Centre

SUMMARY

Hens (White Leghorn) were immunized with different protein antigens and antibodies were isolated from eggs by PEG precipitation. To determine experimental conditions under which optimal antibody titers are reached the antigen dose and the mode of application were varied. Injecting the antigen three times every four weeks in the absence of adjuvant led to a phase like immune response. A plateau of the antibody titer was only reached when immunization was carried out in the presence of adjuvant. Antibody titers obtained from mammalian sera are equally high as those obtained from hen eggs. To label isolated IgY preparations with horse radish peroxidase no further purification or concentration steps are necessary.

Keywords: IgY, protein antigen, titer, kinetics, HRPO-labelling