Characterization of the antibody response to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide at the cellular level: I. Dose-response studies and the effect of prior immunization on the magnitude of the antibody response

The cytokinetics of the antibody to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) were characterized by an immuno-plaque procedure using erythrocytes sensitized with SSS-III. Prior immunization, irrespective of the doses employed, did not result in the development of immunological memory; instead, low-dose paralysis was produced in mice previously immunized with all doses of SSS-III.

Dose-response studies revealed that within a given dose range, there was a direct relationship between the immunizing dose and the magnitude of the antibody response obtained. The dose-response curve for SSS-III showed a single optimal dose for immunization; doses only slightly in excess of the optimal dose produced a significant reduction in the magnitude of the antibody response. The implications of these findings, with respect to the development of paralysis to SSS-III, are discussed.