Further Characterization of Internal Image‐Bearing Anti‐Idiotypic Antibodies: Specific Binding to Immunoglobulin Receptors on Murine Hybridoma Cells Secreting Antibodies to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.

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Abstract
The further characterization of internal image anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id) that represent a potential alternative vaccine candidate for type B viral hepatitis is described. The anti-Id preparation contains an internal image component or related epitope that mimics hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and binds to murine hybridoma cells that secrete antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs). This binding to anti-HBs-secreting hybridomas was partially inhibited by intact HBsAg particles and was associated with the expression of an interspecies idiotype. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that the anti-Id bound to immunglobulin molecules expressed on the surface of the hybridoma cells. These data suggest that internal images anti-Id, which induced an in vivo antibody response by antigenic mimicry in the absence of HBsAg, binds to anti-HBs molecules on the surface of cells actively secreting anti-HBs. The possible mechanism for internal image and anti-Id-based antibody vaccines that mimic the overall conformation of antigens associated with infectious agents is discussed.