Antibody Response to Bacteriophage X 174 in Non-Mammalian Vertebrates.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Injections of bacteriophage [PHI]X 174 into the chicken, frog or goldfish resulted in the appearance of rapidly sedimenting antibody in the circulation which was replaced several months later by slowly sedimenting antibody. High levels of antibody were obtained in the frog and goldfish only after injecting the phage in complete FreuncP s adjuvant, and, in the case of the goldfish, by raising the environmental temperature to 32[degree]C. The findings suggest that the mechanisms responsible for the replacement of rapidly sedimenting antibody molecules by slowy sedimenting ones in the circulation of immunized animals were present in the most recent common ancestors of the terrestial vertebrates and bony fish, and that formation of rapidly sedimenting antibody is an integral and important part of the immune mechanism.