Formation and Transfer of Antibodies in Congenital Murine Infections with a Type 2 Reovirus

[摘要] The formation and transfer of hemagglutinating inhibiting antibodies to reovirus, type 2 in congenital murine reovirus infections have been examined. Pregnant mice respond to reovirus antigen with active and persisting formation of antibody. Progeny are unresponsive. Antibodies in baby sera are passively transferred. Unresponsiveness in nursling mice is not a function of the quality or quantity of the antigen, but is induced by passively acquired specific immunoglobulin.There is little demonstrable prenatal transfer of these antibodies. After delivery, suckling mice rapidly absorb homotypic antibody from their dam's colostrum, and later milk. Titers of hemagglutinating inhibiting antibody in the progeny are easily demonstrable by the 5th day of life. They equal those of their mothers 4 days later, and continue at this level to diminish by day 18. The system allows a critical characterization of maternal colostral antibody in the mouse.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）