Agglutination of Particulate Antigens in Agar Gel

Abstract

Reactions of particulate antigens with their corresponding antibodies were studied by means of double diffusion in gel using 0.5% agar. In the following test systems, distinct reaction lines were observed and their patterns described: 1) Sheep erythrocyte stromata vs. rabbit anti-sheep erythrocyte sera and vs. human infectious mononucleosis sera; 2) human erythrocyte stromata vs. rabbit antisera to human M and N blood groups; 3) sheep erythrocyte stromata sensitized by rabbit antisheep erythrocyte serum vs. goat antiserum to rabbit serum and vs. rabbit antisera to rabbit allotypes; 4) Kahn antigen vs. human syphilis sera and vs. disseminated lupus erythematosus sera; and 5) ethanol-soluble brain antigens vs. rabbit anti-brain sera.In all instances the antigen was in the form of insoluble particles and, accordingly, the reactions observed should be considered agglutination rather than precipitation reactions.