Induction of antibodies to pseudorabies virus by immunization with antiidiotypic antibodies.

We have induced the expression of high titres of antibodies to pseudorabies virus (PRV) by immunization of A/J mice with polyclonal antiidiotypic antibodies directed against each of 2 BALB/c monoclonal, neutralizing anti-PRV antibodies. The anti-PRV antibodies induced by one of the antiidiotypic antibody preparations had an affinity for PRV comparable to that of the original monoclonal antibody. Mice immunized with antiidiotypic antibodies were protected to a significant degree against viral infection but the degree of protection was lower than that conferred by passive transfer of monoclonal neutralizing antibody or by immunization with attenuated virus.