Immunogenicity of Hemocyanins and their Subunits

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Abstract
The primary, secondary and hyperimmune responses of rabbits to hemocyanin and hemocyanin subunits from three molluscan and three arthropod species were measured. The amount of antibody formed by hyperimmune animals was independent of molecular size when closely related molecular species were used. An apparent correlation of immunogenicity and phylogenetic origin of the material was found; mollusc hemocyanins induced higher antibody levels than arthropod hemocyanins. The primary response to closely related antigens increased with increasing molecular size. Primary responses were also found to be less dose dependent than were subsequent responses. The intrinsic difference between primary and secondary responses and the importance of physicochemical properties and hypothetical immunogenic determinants in immunogenicity are discussed.

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