IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ALLERGEN CHEMICALLY-MODIFIED WITH SYNTHETIC COPOLYMER OF N-VINYLPYRROLIDONE AND MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE

Several conjugates of model allergen ovalbumin (OA) and the copolymer of N-vinyl pyrrolidone and maleic anhydride (VMA) modified with epsilo n-aminocaproic acid (Acp) were prepared in different OA/Acp-VMA ratios . All conjugates were separated by ultrafiltration and analyzed by HPL C. Their compositions were determined by amino acid analysis and UV sp ectrometry. To detect immunogenicity, all conjugates were injected int raperitoneally into (CBAxC57BL/6)F1 mice three times in 3-week interva ls in OA doses equivalent to 0.5, 10, and 100 mu g/mouse. Only the con jugate containing 20%OA (OA(20%)-Acp-VMA) did not induce significant q uantities of anti-GA IgE, but did induce anti-GA IgG antibodies in dos e-dependent manner comparable to that of unmodified OA. Mixtures of OA and Acp-VMA or OA modified only with VMA without Acp activation with Acp induced dose-dependent