The Immune Response to Anti-Idiotype Antibodies Bearing an Internal Image Epitope of Tetanus Toxin/Toxoid

Mouse monoclonal (Ab1) anti-tetanus toxin/toxoid antibodies were used to raise Ab2 beta (tetanus toxin/toxoid internal image bearing) anti-idiotype antibodies in rabbits. Those rabbit serum antibodies (Ab2 beta) that did not bind to mouse serum proteins on an affinity column gave rise to an Ab3 anti-tetanus toxin/toxoid antibody response in mice. Rabbit serum antibodies that did bind to the affinity column, when eluted and used to inoculate mice also gave rise to an Ab3 anti-tetanus toxin/toxoid antibody response. It is suggested that one population of rabbit Ab2 beta anti-idiotype antibodies (unbound fraction) bears a partial or complete internal image of a tetanus epitope (Ab2 beta 1) while others (bound fraction) bear a complete or partial mirror image of a mouse immunoglobulin epitope as well (Ab2 beta 2).