Conjugates of proteins and the synthetic copolymer of D-glutamic acid and D-lysine (protein-D-GL) reproducibly induce significant unresponsiveness to the protein antigens in experimental mice. Proteins studied include ovalbumin and antigen E of ragweed extract, the major allergen of ragweed pollen. The unresponsive state 1) can be induced in both unsensitized and previously sensitized experimen...

V(D)J recombination is of fundamental importance to the generation of diverse antigen receptor repertoires. We review our current understanding of the V(D)J recombination reaction and how it is regulated during lymphocyte development. We also discuss how defects in the mechanism or regulation of V(D)J recombination can lead to human disease.

Two monoclonal antibodies against the cross-reactive antigens of S. cricetus (type a) and S. sobrinus (type d) were isolated. Galactose and especially melibiose inhibited the precipitin reaction markedly. Inhibition by melibiose was over 200-fold stronger than that by galactose. This may indicate that galactose-alpha 1, 6-glucose is the predominant antigenic determinant of this cross-reactive a...

A new method for the enumeration of lymphoid cells with specific surface-receptors for antigen is described, based on the use of beta-D-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), either directly as an antigen or as a conjugated antigen. Binding of beta-D-galactosidase is revealed by its activity in releasing riboflavin from a synthetic substrate, riboflavin-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The riboflavin, inactive ...

Surfactant protein (SP) D functions as a soluble pattern recognition molecule to mediate the clearance of pathogens by phagocytes in the innate immune response. We hypothesize that SP-D may also interact with dendritic cells, the most potent antigen presenting cell, to enhance uptake and presentation of bacterial antigens. Using mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, we show that SP-D binds...