Persistence of immunological memory to soluble protein antigens.

  • 1 April 1966
    • journal article
    • Vol. 10  (4) , 377-82
Abstract
The ability of rabbits to make a secondary response to certain protein antigens declines either not at all or very slowly with increase in time. The amount of precipitating antibody produced following a second injection of haemocyanin is the same whether the injection is given 2, 7 or 20 months after the primary injection. With BSA, the amount of precipitating antibody produced was the same when the second injection was given either 2 or 7 months after the primary injection, but rabbits given the second injection 20 months after the first produced 40 per cent less precipitating antibody. The level of binding anti-BSA (measured by ammonium sulphate precipitation) produced was not markedly different when the second injection was given, 2, 7 or 20 months after the first injection.