Native human carcinoembryonic antigen is rapidly removed from the circulation by the rat liver Kupffer cell after intravenous injection. The molecule is subsequently transferred to the hepatocyte in an immunologically identifiable form. Carcinoembryonic antigen has a circulatory half-life of 3.7 (+/- 0.8) min, and cellular entry is by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Non-specific fluid pinocytosi...

We have compared the splenic responses following immunization with the T cell-independent (TI)-2 antigen native dextran B512 and with a thymus-dependent (TD) protein-dextran conjugate. Interestingly, primary immunization with native dextran induced germinal center (GC) formation in the spleen to the same extent as the protein-dextran conjugate. The GC were antigen-specific as characterized by t...

Vaccination with antigens expressed by tumors is one strategy for stimulating enhanced T-cell responses against tumors. However, these peptide vaccines rarely result in efficient expansion of tumor-specific T cells or responses that protect against tumor growth. Mimotopes, or peptide mimics of tumor antigens, elicit increased numbers of T cells that crossreact with the native tumor antigen, res...

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a growing segment of therapeutics, yet their in vitro characterization remains challenging. While it is essential that a therapeutic mAb recognizes the native, physiologically occurring epitope, the generation and selection of mAbs often rely on the use of purified recombinant versions of the antigen that may display non-native epitopes. Here, we present a metho...

The major allergen of ragweed pollen, antigen E, was modified by coupling its amino acid groups with either methanol, methoxypolyethylene glycol (MPEG) of 5,000 daltons, or a synthetic copolymer of D-glutamic acid and D-lysine (DGL) of 34,000 daltons, all appropriately activated. The conjugates were characterized chemically and immunologically. Compared to the native antigen, the methoxy conjug...

Small-t antigen produced in bacteria interacted with two animal cell proteins with molecular weights of 56,000 and 32,000, as did the viral antigen from infected cells. Demonstration of this specific interaction required the enrichment of native, monomeric small-t antigen from extracts in which much of the small-t antigen was highly aggregated.

OBJECTIVE Role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) modified human Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been investigated. METHODS Human IgG was modified by hydroxyl-radicals. Immunogenicity of native and modified human IgG was probed by inducing polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. Cross-reactions of induced antibodies with nucleic acid, chromatin, different blood protei...

Background: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic in the northwest and south of Iran. An appropriate vaccine can help to prevent and control visceral leishmaniasis in both humans and animals. Few studies have confirmed that the fucose-mannose ligand (FML) antigen of Leishmania donovani produced protective immunity in dogs against CVL. Objective: To evaluat...

Puumala virus (Bunyaviridae family, Hantavirus genus) causes a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) called nephropathia epidemica in northern and central Europe. Serological tests are used for diagnosis, but antigen production is difficult because the virus grows poorly in tissue culture. We expressed the N protein (nucleoprotein) of Puumala virus via the Semliki Forest vir...