title: Detection of idiotypic cross-reactions among streptococcal antisera from related rabbits.
abstract: Idiotypic cross-reactions among antibodies to Group C streptococcal carbohydrate were studied using idiotypic antisera prepared in allotypically matched rabbits. Antibodies with idiotypic cross-specificity to one proband antibody were detected in 58% of the antisera from related rabbits, while approximately 1% of nonrelated rabbits produced antibody with this specificity. The cross-specificity was related to the group a (V(H)) allotype of 133 rabbits tested with only one exception. Studies utilizing antisera against a second proband antibody failed to detect antibodies with idiotypic cross-reactivity among the same group of related rabbits. This result emphasizes the variation in expression of idiotypic determinants of antibodies. It was further shown that the presence of anti-IgG's in the streptococcal antisera interfere with the detection of idiotypic cross-reactions. These anti-IgG's masked the presence of antibodies with idiotypic cross-specificity when inhibition of precipitation tests were used for their detection.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005838:Genotype; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D007106:Immune Sera; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007456:Iodine Isotopes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007106:Immune Sera; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007456:Iodine Isotopes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial