Antibody titer, specificity

In rodents, sheep red blood cells (SRBC) are routinely used for immunization. The antibody response is determined using the plaque forming cells assay (PFC) or by plasma SRBC-specific antibody titer [21, 22], As an alternative to SRBC, other T-cell-dependent antigen may be used, including keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), tetanus toxoid (TT), or pneumococcal antigen. 

Humoral immunity is characterized by the production of antigen-specific antibodies that enhance phagocytosis and destruction of microorganisms through opsonization. Thus, deficiencies of humoral immunity (B lymphocytes) may lead to reduced antibody titers and are typically associated with acute gram-positive... 

Sensitivity defines the degree to which an assay can distinguish one compound from another of the same nature and an immunoassay is a function of the particular antibody molecules contained in the antiserum. Specificity of the antiserum is a function of the particular antigen used to immunize the animal. Affinity usually measures how strongly bound is the antigen to the antibody. Titer refers to the concentration level of, in the context of the usage, antibody contained in the obtained serum. 

The source and quality of the lymphocytes and the antibody titer of the desired antibodies within an individual will influence the difficulty of producing antibodies from a library derived from that individual. The sources of lymphocytes that have been used successfully to produce human antibodies of the same specificity as the subject s serum antibodies have been peripheral blood lymphocytes from leukophoresis (20), thyroid lymphocytes (18,21), and lymphocytes from lymph nodes draining the site of the immune response (22) The serum reactivity of the donor should be analyzed in as much detail as possible in order to clone Ig isotypes and subclasses responsible for the response of interest. Subclass-specific antisera can be used in antigen-specific ELISA to achieve this. 

Rho(D) immune globulin is one of the most specific and effective immunosuppressive treatments available. These IgG antibodies have high Rh(D)-specific titers. Administration of Rho(D) immune globulin prevents the response that develops in Rh mothers who were pregnant with an Rh+ fetus and consequently have become sensitized to the D antigen on fetal erythrocytes of the infant. In these Rh mothers, the antibody titers against Rh+ cells will continue to rise after each subsequent... 

The antibody titers seen in rabbits immunized with J5. typhimurium O-antigen-specific saccharide-BSA conjugates are shown in Table II. The characteristics of the antibody responses in rabbits and mice with respect to anti-hapten antibody response (16, 25, 60-63) can be summarized as follows ... 

The overexpression of HER-2 protein in cancer cells makes it an ideal target for vaccines and other targeting strategies. Vaccines optimized to induce maximum T cell immunity to HER-2 may lead to potent in vivo antitumor immunity. HER-2 protein has been evaluated as a potential target for the development of cancer vaccines because preexistent T cell and antibody responses to HER-2 have been described in breast cancer patients (Disis and Cheever, 1996). In other words, breast cancer patients have preexisting immunity to the HER-2 receptor in the form of elevated antibody titers and T cell immunity. Elevated anti-HER-2 T cell responses have been demonstrated in breast and ovarian cancer patients following immunization with peptides derived from the HER-2 protein (Disis et al., 1999). However, whether peptide-specific T cell responses can be translated to antitumor immunity has yet to be established. 

Our first studies were published in 1983 [69]. We were able to demonstrate induction of both IgM and IgG antibodies to coli 1-ASP that markedly exceeded the normal range after three i.v. infusions of the enzymes at 3000 U/kg bw every third day. High levels of specific antibodies were associated with an increased risk of allergic reactions. Antibody titers decreased upon... 

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