Hen egg yolk as a source of antiviral antibodies in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): a comparison of two plant viruses.
A method of raising antibodies against plant viruses in hen egg yolk is described. Laying hens were immunized with citrus tristeza virus (CTV) or tobacco mosaic virus-avocado isolate (TMV-A). Anti-viral antibodies in the yolks of sequentially laid eggs as well as in the serum were titrated by the (heterologous) antiglobulin double antibody sandwich form of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (HADAS-ELISA). Antibodies first appeared in yolk 7 days after injection and peak levels were attained on day 9-11; these levels persisted for about 6-12 days. Non-specific yolk antibodies were removed by absorption with an extract of uninfected plant tissue. Using the HADAS-ELISA technique we found that yolk titres were equal to, or higher than those in serum. The benefits of using laying hens over conventional laboratory animals as a source of antiviral antibody are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D004530:Egg Yolk; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral