Studies of the Flocculation-Reaction Time in the Course of Immunization and the Quantitative and Qualitative Changes of the Proteins

[摘要] A consistent increase in the flocculation-reaction time has been found during the immunization period of horses used for diphtheria antitoxin production. It is suggested that the speed of reaction is an expression of the interfacial state of the antitoxic-protein-molecule complex.A study was made of various quantitative and qualitative characteristics of antitoxic sera as related to the flocculation reaction.Nine horses were immunized with infusion-free toxin, by both a slow and a rapid immunization technic. Three horses were immunized with purified infusion-free toxin and three horses with a routine toxin containing meat infusion. During the immunization period the horses were followed for any biochemical changes in order to determine, if possible, the existence of any relationship between the flocculation-reaction time and quantitative differences of one or more of the physicochemical constants of sera.A technic was developed for determination of the surface tension of plasma in order to exclude the errors present when serum is used.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）