title: Efficient production of chicken egg yolk antibodies against a conserved mammalian protein.
abstract: The egg yolk of immunized chicken is a rich and inexpensive source of specific polyclonal antibodies. In this paper we show that 20-30 micrograms of a highly conserved mammalian protein, as exemplified by proliferating cell nuclear antigen, are sufficient to induce an immune response. Immunoblot analysis revealed that specific antibodies appeared 20 days after immunization, reached a plateau after 30 days, and remained high until at least day 81. A total amount of 4 g immunoglobulin was extracted from 62 eggs of one immunized hen, yielding approximately 130 mg of specific antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Zürich-Irchel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gassmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thömmes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hübscher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D004530:Egg Yolk; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
chemical_list: C016512:IgY; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen