title: Virus-specific polymeric immunoglobulin A antibodies in serum from patients with rubella, measles, varicella, and herpes zoster virus infections.
abstract: More than 85% of the immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in normal adult serum are monomeric (m-IgA). By contrast, virus-specific IgA is mainly polymeric (p-IgA) in sera from patients with rubella, measles, and varicella. Specific m-IgA antibodies only reach quantitative significance in late convalescence. In patients with herpes zoster, on the other hand, a varying response was observed: in three of six sera, specific IgA was absent or at a very low titer, whereas in the remaining three cases, a high titer of both p-IgA and m-IgA was noted. These results suggest that in the initial response to rubella, measles, and varicella-zoster viruses, specific IgA first appears as p-IgA and only later becomes, or is replaced by, m-IgA.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D011108:Polymers; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011108:Polymers; C034639:polymeric IgA