Synthetic antigens as immunogens: Part III. Specificity analysis of an anti-anti-idiotypic antibody to a carbohydrate tumor-associated antigen.

These investigations are centered on the development of anti-idiotypic and anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies to a structurally defined carbohydrate Ag, 3-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (Fuc alpha 1----3Gal). Biologic association of this disaccharide Ag structure had previously been found with tissues from areas of benign and malignant disease of the colon and breast. The exquisite specificity of binding of the original Ab1, with the antibody-Ag reaction requiring both fucose and galactose and the alpha-anomeric 1----3 linkage, was repeated with the anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies. This information indicates that although antigenic mimicry of anti-idiotypic for Ag is accomplished using amino acids in place of sugars, the specificity pattern can be precisely reproduced.