Idiotypic identity of antibodies to streptococcal carbohydrate in inbred mice

Abstract

Abstract In this study antibodies to the streptococcal carbohydrate of inbred strains of mice were investigated for the occurrence of shared idiotypes. Strain A/J produced high serum levels of antibodies with limited heterogeneity‐ to Group A streptococcal carbohydrate. A homogeneous antibody from one A/J mouse was obtained by cloning the hyper immune spleen cells into irradiated recipient mice. Idiotypic antisera to this antibody were made in A/J mice and in guinea pigs. These idiotypic antisera cross‐reacted with antibodies to Group A carbohydrate from all A/J mice, but not with that of two other strains. The idiotypes of 4 out of 5 A/J antibodies were indistinguishable. The selective expression or exclusion of idiotypes in different inbred strains raises the question whether v‐genes are inherited as allelic sets that can segregate.