Egg yolk antibodies, called IgY, were isolated from the egg yolks of chickens immunized with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) 987P. Specific binding activity of IgY against ETEC 987P was found. Whole cell titers remained relatively high during the immunization period (up to 19 weeks). The IgY antibodies cross-reacted with other members of Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Sal...

Immunoglobulin Y is different from most of the other immunoglobulins because it does not bind protein A or protein G. Thiophilic gel chromatography has been successfully used to purify IgY from chicken egg yolk, but the technology has not previously been used to purify IgY from serum. In this research note, we describe the optimization of T-gel chromatography for purification of IgY from serum....

According to Linscott"s Directory of Immunological and Biological Reagents (1994/95) the commercial availability of egg-yolk antibodies (IgY) is extremely low. For preparation, cleaning and detection of IgY it would be of advantage to have a "Protein Y" available analogous to protein A and protein G for mammalian antibodies. Until now, the search for "Protein Y" was unsuccessful. IgY has been u...

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were produced against chicken IgY purified from egg yolks. Purity of the IgY was established using immunoelectrophoresis and reducing and non-reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Five stable hybrid clones were characterized and Mabs, all belonging to IgG1 isotype, were found to bind to the IgY heavy chain in Western blots. These clones did not cross-react wi...

Shiga toxins (Stxs) are involved in the development of severe systemic complications associated with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection. Various neutralizing agents against Stxs are under investigation for management of EHEC infection. In this study, we immunized chickens with formalin-inactivated Stx-1 or Stx-2, and obtained immunoglobulin Y (IgY) from the egg yolk. Anti-Stx-1...

BACKGROUND To control avian coccidiosis with drug-independent strategy effectively and safely, multivalent hyperimmune egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) was prepared and its ability to protect against Eimeria tenella infection was evaluated. METHODS Hens were orally immunized with live oocysts of 5 species of Eimeria for six times, antibody titers in serum and yolk were monitored by indirect enzy...

Hens can be immunized by means of i.m. vaccination (Musculus pectoralis, left and right, injection volume 0.5-1.0 ml) or by means of Gene-Gun plasmid-immunization. Dependent on the immunogenicity of the antigen, high antibody-titres (up to 1:100,000 - 1:1,000,000) can be achieved after only one or 3 - 4 boost immunizations. Normally, a hen lays eggs continuously for about 72 weeks, thereafter t...

Avian embryos and neonates acquire passive immunity by transferring maternal immunoglobulins from serum to egg yolk. Despite being a convenient source of antibodies, egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) from immunized hens have so far received scant attention in research. Here we report the generation and rapid isolation of IgY from the egg yolk of hens immunized against the alpha subunit of the huma...

The protective effect of hyperimmune IgY fraction of egg yolk prepared from hens hyperimmunized with multiple species of Eimeria oocysts on experimental coccidiosis was evaluated in young broilers. Chickens were continuously fed from hatch with a standard diet containing hyperimmune IgY egg yolk powder or a nonsupplemented control diet and orally challenged at d 7 posthatch with 5.0 x 10(3) spo...

The effect of non-reducing sugars (sucrose, lactose and trehalose), complex carbohydrates (cyclodextrin and dextran), infant formula or egg yolk on the stability of purified chicken IgY was evaluated under different conditions. Regardless of the protectant that was used, about 20% of the activity of IgY was lost during freeze-drying except in the presence of infant formula where the loss of IgY...