A methodology for the production of carbohydrate-specific antibody.

8-Methoxycarbonyloctyl glycosides are recommended as precursors for the preparation of artificial antigens that possess strongly immunodominant carbohydrate antigenic determinants. The preparation and immunochemical properties of a selected number of these antigens are reported to demonstrate the high levels of hapten-specific antibodies that are normally achieved using standard immunization schedules. The method, based on glycoside synthesis, promises to make available a wide spectrum of well defined antigens and the homologous antibodies.