Enhancement of primary antigen-specific resistance in infant mice with divinyl ether-maleic anhydride.

The early response of infant mice to foot-and-mouth disease viral antigens, measured by greater resistance and increased serum-neutralizing antibody, was enhanced by divinyl ether-maleic anhydride (DVE/MA). Preparations of known antigen concentration were used to study various parameters influencing this enhancement. Resistance and antibody levels were increased when DVE/MA was administered with aqueous or oil-emulsified antigens, whether given separately or mixed with the antigens, but was dependent on the dose and route of the DVE/MA and antigen. Enhanced resistance developed rapidly, was antigen-specific, and may have been related to the level of neutralizing antibody.