Laurell crossed immunoelectrophoresis and affinity chromatography for the purification of a parasite antigen.

Laurell crossed immunoelectrophoresis (two-dimensional electroimmunodiffusion) was used to prepare minute amounts of purified parasite antigens complexed with their precipitating antibodies obtained from rabbits. These complexes, emuslified in Freund's complete adjuvant, were then used to prime rabbits for selective production of precipitins to the complexed antigens when the animals were later boosted with whole parasite extract. The IgG antibody from the monospecific antiserum recovered was then utilized in affinity chromatography to isolate from the crude parasite antigen large amounts of specific antigen in one step. Thus the combination of preparatory crossed immunoelectrophoresis for immunization using complexed antigen and affinity chromatography with monospecific antibody offers a powerful procedure for the rapid isolation of specific antigens.