Some features of the antibody response of sheep

Abstract

Extract

Antibody activity has been shown to be associated with a class of antigenically related serum proteins referred to as the “immunoglobulins” (see Fahey, 1962; Cohen and Porter, 1964). The immunoglobulins of man are known to include three major groups named IgG, IgA and IgM. Where similar divisions have been described recently in other species, their nomenclature has been based on that of their human counterparts. These three groups form a family of related proteins in that, while each group has its own antigenic individuality, there is also an antigenic determinant common to all the groups. Table 1 lists the main physico-chemical properties of these groups and indicates the diverse nature of the immunoglobulins.