Immunization of rabbits with mosquito bites: immunoblot analysis of IgG antimosquito antibodies in rabbit and man.

Rabbits immunized with 50-60 Aedes communis mosquito bites developed IgG antibodies recognizing a 21.5-kD mosquito antigen detected by the immunoblot technique. This protein seems to be a major immunogen in the saliva of A. communis mosquitoes. Studies on 60 human sera revealed that IgG antibodies recognizing the 21.5-kD antigen occurred in about 50% of young children and adults but were not found in the sera of 20 unexposed infants. The present immunoblot method allows further characterization of antigens and antibodies specific to mosquito saliva and contributes to understanding their role in mosquito bite reactions.