POLYCLONAL ANTIIDIOTYPES INDUCE SPECIFIC ANTI-SAXITOXIN ANTIBODY-RESPONSES

Polyclonal BALB/C mouse and New Zealand White rabbit anti-idiotypic an tibodies were raised by immunization with a protein G-purified burro a nti-saxitoxin IgG antibody preparation. Following absorption of non-an ti-idiotype reactivity, murine and rabbit IgG were purified by protein A chromatography and used to immunize BALB/C mice for the induction o f anti-saxitoxin antibody responses. Unconjugated BALB/C anti-idiotype s did not induce significant anti-saxitoxin reactivity in BALB/C mice, even after repeated immunizations. However, BALB/C mice immunized wit h purified BALB/C anti-idiotypes conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyan in, or with purified, unconjugated rabbit anti-idiotypes, as aluminum hydroxide precipitates, induced significant and specific anti-saxitoxi n immune responses. Saxitoxin, a sodium channel blocker, can protect c ells treated with veratridine and ouabain, whose respective actions ar e to open sodium channels and to block the activity of Na/K-ATPase. Th e anti-idiotype-induced anti-saxitoxin antibodies inhibited saxitoxin from protecting against cell death induced by veratridine and ouabain treatment. These and other published experimental results strengthen t he concept of anti-idiotype-based vaccines in eliciting protective imm unity against a variety of low molecular weight, nonproteinaceous biol ogical and chemical toxins, whose extreme toxicity does not allow thei r use as safe immunogens.