Immunogenicities of haemocyanins from the giant African snail (Achatina fulica) and the keyhole limpet (Megathura crenulata).
1. The immunogenicities of the giant African snail (Achatina fulica) haemocyanin (AFH) and the keyhole limpet (Megathura crenulata) haemocyanin (KLH) were compared by determining their capacities to induce humoral and cell-mediated immune response in rats. 2. KLH was found to be more immunogenic than AFH, and this was attributed to the fact that KLH contains more moieties, and probably more antigenic determinants than AFH. 3. Since AFH was found capable of stimulating both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, it was suggested that it could be used as an antigen for the investigation of immune responses.
D000818:Animals; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology*; D008974:Mollusca / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012908:Snails / Q000032:analysis*
D006433:Hemocyanins