CHARACTERIZATION OF A POLYCLONAL ANTI-GAL-ALPHA-1-3GAL ANTIBODY FROM CHICKEN

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.