Murine antibody response to the glycolipid asialo GM1 adsorbed to Salmonella.

The murine antibody response to the asialo GM1 adsorbed to stripped Salmonella was studied. IgM and IgG responses were obtained which did not fall to baseline within 200 days after the initial immunization. The antisera from the experimental group showed strong reactivity to asialo GM1 and measureable amounts of activity to asialo GM2. Sera from control animals receiving Salmonella alone also reacted to asialo GM2. Additional experiments showed that the anti-asialo GM1 and the anti-asialo GM2 activities were the result of separate antibody populations. Antisera from an early bleed of the experimental group showed specific lysis of asialo GM1 bearing macrophages; however, later bleeds from both experimental and control groups lysed asialo GM1 expressing and normal macrophages equally. These results suggest an autoimmunity had been generated. The suitability of this protocol for generating specific antiserum and immunizing in preparation for generating monoclonal antibodies is discussed.