Studies on the neutralizing antibody to herpes simplex virus. II. Quantitative analysis of type specific antibodies in rabbits immunized with both types of virus.

A quantitative analysis was carried out on type specific antibody developed in rabbits primed with three doses of one type of herpes simplex virus at two week intervals, followed by administration of another type of virus. Complement-requiring neutralizing antibody assay and mutual absorbing methods were used. The homotype specific antibody produced against the type of virus used for priming persisted at a constant level for a long period, despite the lack of antigenic stimuli by the same type after priming. The homotype specific antibody was not affected by the heterotypic antigenic stimuli. On the other hand, the heterotype specific antibody developed after the first or second injection of heterotypic virus, and the titer tended to decline, reaching undetectable levels at 9 months. However, the heterotype specific antibody was produced rapidly after the third injection of virus at 9 months and the titers exceeded or closed to those of the homotype specific antibody. The homotype specific antibodies were mainly distributed in the IgG fraction, while the IgM fraction contained mainly the heterotype specific antibodies. In relationship between type specific antibody response and the values of II/I index, the coexistence of both type specific antibodies was apparent in sera with the values of 91 to 117 of II/I index and in the IgG fraction with the values of 90 to 115, respectively.