The production of highly specific anti-testosterone antisera using acid-treated bacteria as immunogenic carrier

J M Cilliers1, H W Stindt, D U Bellstedt

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa.

A novel and effective procedure for the production of highly specific anti-testosterone antibodies is described. It involved pretreatment of experimental animals with tolerogens followed by immunization with conjugates of testosterone covalently linked to acid-treated Salmonella minnesota R595 bacteria as immunogenic carriers. Antibodies elicited by this procedure showed minimal cross-reactivity towards 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and some of them were successfully used in radioimmunoassays for the determination of serum testosterone levels, even without the need for prior extraction.

Related Concept Videos

Antibody Structure01:10

Antibody Structure

Overview
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
Hybridoma Technology01:31

Hybridoma Technology

Hybridoma technology is used for the large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies bind to only a single antigenic determinant or epitope. Such antibodies are used in research, diagnostics, and disease therapy. The hybridoma technology established in 1975 by Georges Köhler and Cesar Milstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1984 for revolutionizing research and therapy.
Hybridoma Selection
Commonly used fusion techniques — electroporation, polyethylene glycol...
Vaccine Production01:23

Vaccine Production

Vaccine production involves a sequence of upstream and downstream processes to generate a safe and effective immunological product. It begins with cultivating microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, to obtain antigenic material. For viral vaccines, mammalian host cells are grown in bioreactors and subsequently infected with the target virus. The virus replicates within the host cells, which are lysed to release viral particles. This lysate is then clarified through filtration or...