Antigens of cowpox virus

Abstract

Cowpox soluble antigen is shown by gel-diffusion studies to contain at least nine precipitable substances whose presence is induced by virus infection. One of these substances, pattern component d , is not produced in white cowpox infections, and its production in vaccinia infection can be inferred only from the presence of small amounts of anti- d in anti-vaccinia sera. Comparison of cowpox with vaccinia has led to the recognition of a further line pattern component f which is readily demonstrated as a soluble precipitable substance in simple buffer extracts of vaccinia-infected tissue, but is demonstrated in extracts of cowpox-infected tissue only with difficulty; anti- f antibody is readily detected in antisera prepared against cowpox, white cowpox, and vaccinia.