The natural antibody response to E. coli includes antibodies of the IgD class.

Antibodies to E. coli of the IgM, IgG and IgA class are readily demonstrable in normal human serum. Using the sensitive red cell-linked antigen-antiglobulin system, it has been demonstrated that antibodies of the IgD class are also part of this normal response. The IgD antibody titre is low and often could only be demonstrated in partially purified IgD preparations. The availability of purified IgD paraproteins and their Fabdelta and Fcdelta fragments, as well as antisera specific for these fragments, allowed the necessary critical specificity controls to be performed.