title: Lack of genetic restriction by a potential anti-idiotype vaccine for type B viral hepatitis.
abstract: Anti-idiotype (anti-Id) reagents that bear an internal image capable of mimicking hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were used to induce an antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) response in both rabbits and chimpanzees. The anti-idiotype induced antibody response produced in rabbits recognized HBsAg determinants associated with the induction of protective immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Attesting further to the specificity was the binding of the rabbit anti-idiotype to the anti-idiotype induced anti-HBs containing sera. Our findings suggest that genetic restrictions associated with the induction of an interspecies immune response may not be a limitation of anti-idiotype based vaccines. In addition, anti-idiotype immunization also produced an anti-HBs in chimpanzees, a species susceptible to infection with human HBV. These data demonstrate that internal-image-bearing anti-idiotype reagents can induce an immune response across species barriers. Additionally, the reagents represent a viable alternative approach to vaccination against agents such as hepatitis B virus that cause human disease.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D014765:Viral Vaccines