The specificity of serological reactions / [Karl Landsteiner].

  • Karl Landsteiner
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The specificity of serological reactions / [Karl Landsteiner]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    42/196 (page 30)
    to heated sera of other mammals, but sometimes weakly with heated rabbit serum also (Table 6), and Uwazumi immunizing rabbits with rabbit serum heated to 120° obtained antisera which precipitated similarly treated serum proteins of this and various other mammalian species. Table 6.—Precipitation oe Various Heated Sera by an Immune Serum eor Ox Serum Heated to ioo°C. (after Furth). (Dilution of the antigens 1:1000) Ox Sheep Horse Man Rabbit + + + + + + + + + + + Similar results were reported by Horsfall (236) with antisera produced in rabbits to proteins treated with formaldehyde at 370. Such sera precipitated, though to a considerably lower titer than the homologous antigen, formolized proteins of heterolo- gous mammalian sera, including rabbit serum. The discrepancy between these and earlier experiments (see p. 20) may be due to the different mode of preparing the antigens. The modification of antigens by combination (probably of amino groups) with formaldehyde has assumed considerable importance. In this way toxins are converted into non-toxic substances (toxoids, anatoxins) which still react specifically with antisera and are used to advantage for active immunization and the production of antitoxins. The assumption that salt forming groups are of significance in serological reactions led to the detection of alterations which affect very markedly the specificity of proteins. From this point of view esterification of the acid groups in proteins was under- taken, and this was effected with acid in alcoholic solution83 or diazomethane84 (or diazoethane). With diazomethane, at least on intense treatment, in addition to esterification hydroxyl-, amino- and imino-groups are methylated. The protein esters 83 Landsteiner and Prasek (167), p. 222; (237). The changes that take place in these reactions, in addition to esterification, were investigated by Kiesel and Znamenskaja (238). 84 Landsteiner (239), (240); cf. Edlbacher (241).