Decreased antibody response following immunization with enantiomorphic synthetic polypeptides

The ability to decrease the antibody response to poly(Glu52Lys33Tyr15) in the DA and PVG strains of rats by prior immunization with its D-amino acid enantiomorph poly(DGlu48DLys38DTyr14) was tested as part of a continuing investigation into the role of optical isomerism in the ability of an antigen to induce an antibody response. The results showed that prior immunization with the D-amino acid polymer decreased the immune response to the isomeric L-polypeptide in both strains.