Our understanding of the mechanisms involved in B cell activation, proliferation and differentiation to immunoglobulin secreting cells has been facilitated by the use of T-independent and T-dependent antigens. The majority of these studies have used the murine system and only recently, the rat. Because membranes isolated from Mycoplasma neurolyticum are potent B cell mitogens in the rat and some T-independent antigens also activate DNA synthesis in B cells, the in vitro and in vivo antibody responses induced by M. neurolyticum membranes in T-deficient rat systems were examined. The three groups of rats used, i.e., nude; anti-thymocyte serum-treated, neonatally-thymectomized (ATS-Tx); and normal Fischer 344 produced a non-polyclonal antibody response against the membranes. Spleen cell cultures that were T cell deficient and B cell enriched produced plaque-forming cells against the Mycoplasma membranes. Antibody production was depleted upon removal of Sephadex G-10 adherent cells. The antibody response is comprised of both antigen-specific and polyclonal responses. Lipoglycan, found in the aqueous phenol extract of the membranes, is the mitogenic fraction of the membranes, and this study suggests that it may also be the T-independent antigenic component of the M. neurolyticum membranes.
Antibodies in both their free and immobilized state have been the object of considerable industrial and academic interest. A variety of methods are used for preparing and immobilizing antibodies. Applications for monoclonal antibodies include the preparation of therapeutics, diagnostics, and in affinity fractionation. Recent US patents on monoclonal and immobilized antibodies and scientific literature on monoclonal antibodies are surveyed. A description of these patents and a list of references are given.
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