A polyclonal antibody was raised against the Gal alpha 1-3Gal carbohyd
rate epitope, which is expressed by all mammals (except man and the cl
osest primate species) by immunizing hens with rabbit erythrocyte memb
ranes. IgY was isolated from egg yolks, and affinity-purified on a Gal
alpha 1-3Gal-Synsorb column. Two percent of the initial IgY fraction
was recovered. The specificity of the affinity-purified antibody was c
haracterized by: absorption with human, rabbit and pig erythrocytes; b
y using Synsorb columns; by inhibition with different saccharides; and
by immunostaining of glycolipids separated on thin layer chromatogram
s. A weak reactivity was found toward blood group B or blood group P-k
determinant, depending on the assay system used. Such reactivities we
re abolished after absorption by the appropriate sorbents, yielding a
polyclonal anti-Gal alpha 1-3Gal antibody with narrow specificity.