Immunogenicity of the envelope glycoprotein of avian sarcoma virus.
The expression of type E-specific glycoprotein in chick-helper factor-positive [chf(+)] chickens is not restricted to a certain stage of embryogenesis but persists in postembryonic life. This finding prompted an investigation of the immunogenicity of the viral envelope glycoprotein of exogenous avian sarcoma virus in chf(+) and chf(-) chickens. Sensitization of both classes of chickens resulted in the induction of detectable antibody reactivity to determinants of the glycoprotein that were type-specific as well as group-specific. Because group-specific determinants are present on type E-specific glycoprotein, these results link immunity to exogenous viral envelope glycoprotein in chf(+) chickens with autoreactivity. A model is proposed to rationalize the induction of reactivity in this system.
D001355:Alpharetrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006378:Helper Viruses / Q000276:immunology; D001357:Sarcoma, Avian / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins