Stimulation of a T-Independent Primary Anti-Hapten Response in Vitro by TNP-Lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS)

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Abstract
The trinitrophenyl hapten (TNP) has been covalently conjugated to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to give TNP-LPS. The site of attachment has been suggested to be in the core polysaccharide and lipid A region of the molecule and approximately 2.4 hapten molecules are bound per monomer LPS molecule. The TNP-LPS has been demonstrated to be immunogenic in vitro at very low concentration. This antigen has further been shown to initiate a T-independent TNP-PFC response. The immunogenicity of TNP-LPS is abrogated by mild alkaline hydrolysis, suggesting a requirement for intact lipid A in the initiation of an immune response at the very low concentrations of antigen used.