POLYGENIC CONTROL OF ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION AND CORRELATION WITH VACCINE-INDUCED RESISTANCE TO RABIES VIRUS IN HIGH AND LOW ANTIBODY RESPONDERMICE

The amplification of ''high'' (H) and ''low'' (L) multispecific antibo dy responses achieved respectively by H and L lines of selection GP re presents a valuable tool in the genetic study of host-infection intera ctions. These lines were obtained by bidirectional selective breeding for high (H-GP) or low (L(GP)) antibody production to natural complex antigens. H-GP and L(GP) parental lines and reciprocal F1 hybrids, as well as their F2 segregants and backcrosses were submitted to immuniza tion and challenge with rabies virus CVS strain. Acquired resistance w as 1000-fold higher in H-GP than L(GP) mice, with a dominance effect t o low antibody production observed in F1 hybrids. An association betwe en high antibody response and acquired resistance (P < 0.001) in F2 se gregant mice was noticed. The genetic study was performed in these sev eral populations, with a single dose of 10(4.5)-fold LD50 CVS. We coul d demonstrate 3 independent loci regulating the anti-rabies antibody p roduction, that are distinct, at least in part, from the 10 genes cont rolling the antigen selection response (sheep erythrocytes) of selecti on GP.