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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #83780
Title: ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO MICROENCAPSULATED OVALBUMIM; DETERMINATION OF ISOTYPE AND AVIDITY.

Author
item Obrien, Celia
item Guidry, Albert
item WESTHOFF, D - U. MD COLLEGE PARK, MD

Submitted to: Vaccine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The goal of vaccine development is to formulate vaccines that produce long-lasting high-affinity antibody titers. To achieve this goal immunization protocols that include an initial large dose of antigen in adjuvant is followed by boosting with a much smaller dose. The initial dose stimulates a large heterogenous population of antibody producing cells of high and low affinity. Boosting with smaller dose(s) selectively stimulates the cells producing high affinity antibody over time. The current study tested a single injection of antigen incorporated into biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres that presented a large initial dose of antigen and a continuous release of a small amount of antigen. Antibody titers were elevated to the end of the 56 week study. More importantly antibody affinity increased continuously to the end of the study. This method of antigen presentation could be used to effectively immunize cattle and other animals with a single dose and thus stimulate better protective immunity against costly mastitis infections.

Technical Abstract: Mice were tested for their response to biodegradable poly(D,L- lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres containing 1, 10 and 100 ug of ovalbumin. The 1 and 10 ug doses required a boost to effect an antibody response. Antibody affinity increased following a 0.1 ug boost of the 1.0 ug dose and remained level to the end of the one-year study. A 1 ug boost of the 10 ug immunization tended to decrease antibody affinity. A simple injection of 100 ug of ovalbumin effected an immediate rise in antibody titer, followed by a decreased but sustained titer accompanied by an increase in antibody affinity to the end of the study. The 100 ug effected an antibody response in all antibody isotypes.