Production of Antibodies in Egg Whites of Chickens

Background: IgM, which participates in the primary immune response, is the primary antibody in egg whites. There is scant information about the production of antibodies in egg whites. This study describes the preparation of antibodies against a bacterial antigen, staphylococcal protein-A. Methods: The detection of antibodies against staphylococcal protein-A in egg white was performed by ELISA, and the antibodies were purified by protein-A affinity chromatography. Agglutination inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strains by purified antibodies against protein-A in vitro was investigated. Results: ELISA showed the production of antibodies against staphylococcal protein-A in the egg whites of layer hens. The antibodies were separated using affinity chromatography. The agglutination of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strains occurred when the purified antibodies were incubated with S. aureus. Conclusion: The results showed that it is possible to produce antibodies against bacterial antigens in egg whites, which can have industrial applications in the preparation of antibodies for immunotherapy of infectious diseases.

Immunologic changes in healthy probands and HIV infected patients after oral administration of Staphylococcus aureus 12c: a pilot study

The tumoricidal and antiviral effects of Staphylococcal toxins are well documented. In a preliminary study we investigated the immune modulating properties of these toxins by administering single oral doses of a 12c potency of a lysate of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, to 4 healthy probands and 12 HIV infected patients with clinical symptoms. We observed a decrease of circulating immune complexes in the healthy probands as well as in the HIV positive patients, accompanied in the latter by a significant increase of CD4 lymphocytes, CD4/CD8-ratio and an improvement of the HIV related symptoms. None of the dose dependent toxic effects commonly found in Staphylococcal sepsis were noticed. Further research on the immune modulating effects of potencies of bacterial superantigens is suggested, especially in view of a possible treatment for HIV infected and other immune compromised patients.