Ribosome antigenicity

A ribosomal vaccine for P. damselae % ibsp. piscicida has been evaluated in yellowtail following administration by i.p. injection, with the initial evidence pointing to success with ribosomal antigen P (Ninomiya et al., 1989). In a further development, this group experimented with a potassium thiocyanate extract and acetic acid treated naked cells obtained from a virulent... 

An IgG-antibody against an individual ribosomal protein binds specifically only to this protein in a ribosomal subunit. Since the antibody is divalent it can form a bridge between the identical proteins in two subunits, leading to a dimer that can be examined under Ae electron microscope. The location of the bound antibody on the subunit surface can be determined, defining the position of the antigenic determinant of a particular protein. The method relies on the fact that IgG-antibodies are able to react with specific proteins within the intact ribosomal subunits and that both subunits have discernible shapes with recognizable morphological landmarks. 

A major application of monoclonal antibodies is in clinical assays for drugs, bacterial and viral products, tumor antigens, hormones, and other circulating proteins. Their use in conjunction with immunoassays (Box 31-C) has provided increased specificity and sensitivity. Another major application is to observe binding of antibodies to specific proteins by electron microscopy. The location of specific receptor proteins can be established - as can the locations of ribosomal proteins and many other cellular components (Fig. 29-1). Monoclonal antibodies to acetylcholine receptors have been shown to induce symptoms of myasthenia gravis (Box 31-D), supporting the autoimmune origin of that disease. 1 Monoclonal antibodies specific for such a small hapten as mercuric ion have been isolated.k... 

In the case of a positive reaction, further differentiation of antigen specificity should follow. In the case of a negative reaction together with sufficient clinical suspicion, immunological diagnostics must be extended to include antibodies against microsomes (LKM), ribosomes and the cytoskeleton. (s. tabs. 5.20 33.1)... 

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