Production and characterization of an anti-idiotypic antibody specific for a monoclonal antibody to glycoprotein D of herpes simplex virus.

A monoclonal antibody specific for glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was used to prepare an anti-idiotypic antibody in rabbits. After removal of antibody reactivity to constant region determinants by absorption with polyclonal mouse immunoglobulins and a monoclonal antibody of the same subclass as the anti-gD monoclonal, the anti-idiotypic (anti-id) antibody reacted specifically with anti-gD. Using an ELISA inhibition assay with immunoaffinity-purified gD, the anti-id D reagent inhibited the binding of anti-gD to gD, suggesting that anti-id D mimics an epitope of gD by binding the antigen-combining site of anti-gD. Immunization of mice with anti-id D could prime splenocytes in vivo to proliferate in response to HSV antigen stimulation in vitro. The possibility that anti-id D could act similarly to gD and stimulate an immune response to HSV when administered in vivo is discussed.