Shared idiotypes among monoclonal antibodies specific for different immunodominant sugars of lipopolysaccharide of different Gram-negative bacteria.

Shared idiotypes (Ids) were identified on monoclonal antibodies specific for different immunodominant sugars in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria. The first group of monoclonal antibodies is specific for Escherichia coli 0113 LPS, whereas the second group is specific for Salmonella tranaroa LPS. The shared idiotopes borne by these two groups of monoclonal antibodies were identified with monoclonal anti-Id antibodies specific for E. coli LPS-binding monoclonal antibodies and with syngeneic anti-384Id antibodies specific for MOPC 384 and MOPC 870 myeloma proteins. Our data suggest that shared idiotopes are common for antibodies for an antigenic family.