文摘
Since conserved mammalian polypeptides are believed to exhibit enhanced immunogenicity in avian species, hens were immunized against the poorly immunogenic, highly conserved mammalian polypeptide prothymosin alpha (ProTx3b1;), i.e. against either non-conjugated ProTx3b1; (isolated from bovine thymus) or ProTx3b1; conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (ProTx3b1;/KLH). The antibodies Y were isolated from the egg yolk and evaluated through suitable dot-blot and ELISA systems in parallel with antibodies G isolated from the antiserum of rabbits immunized against the same immunogens. As revealed, antibodies Y and G of low titer and/or affinity were obtained against non-conjugated ProTx3b1;, while antibodies Y against ProTx3b1;/KLH had a better apparent titer, could better discriminate between ProTx3b1; and the closely related bioactive peptide thymosin alpha 1, and were obtained at much larger quantities than the corresponding antibodies G.