Studies on a Common Bedsonia-Group Antigen (CBA) Found in the Yolk of Hens′ Eggs

[摘要] In the course of investigation of antigens of the psittacosis - lymphogranuloma - trachoma group (Bedsonia) it was noted that uninoculated hen's egg yolk elicited the production, in rabbits, of high titers of antibodies, reacting against Bedsonia antigens in complement fixation (CF) tests. Similar cross-reactions were obtained in guinea pigs, but were demonstrable only in CF inhibition (CFI) tests. Untreated yolk contained low titers of antigen reacting with anti-Bedsonia sera, but this titer was enhanced by treating the yolk with ethanol. This antigen, called common Bedsonia antigen or CBA, is ethanol soluble and soluble in ether only after treatment with ethanol. The possibility has been excluded that the above-described cross-reactions were due to contamination with yolk of Bedsonia antigens used in CF tests or for the immunization of animals.CBA was detected in unincubated eggs or in the yolk of embryos 1 to 15 days old. Its similarity to Bedsonia antigens was further illustrated in CF tests in which titers obtained by primary incubation at 37°C for 90 min and at 4°C for 18 hr were compared. Temperature of incubation affected differently the reactions between anti-yolk serum against CBA and the major antigens of yolk, but did not discriminate between the reactions against CBA and Bedsonia antigens. When this test was applied to anti-psittacosis serum, in this case also, CBA and Bedsonia antigens could not be differentiated.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）