SPECIFITIES OF RABBIT ANTISERA TO MULTIPLE ANTIGEN (MAP) PEPTIDES

Two multiple antigen peptides consisting of 6 and 7 amino acid residue s, respectively, plus a 12-residue fragment, used as a control, all li nked to a polylysine core, were used as immunogens in rabbits in order to obtain an immune response. Rabbit antisera against such polymers w ere then tested in ELISA against a panel of antigens in order to analy ze the specificites of the resulting antibodies. The responses were di fferent for all three immunogens, being partially or totally directed, for two of the three compounds, including the 12-residue control MAP peptide, against the polylysyl core, which is considered as non immuno genic. The third MAP polymer was practically unable to elicit an immun e response.