Question

6. A graduate student was performing some hapten-carrier experiments in the mouse house. His graduate advisor gave him the following hapten-carriers; X-Y and X-Z. He injected X-Y into mouse A and mouse B. Two weeks later, he injected mouse A with X-Z and mouse B with X-Y. One week later, he collected serum from both mouse A and B.

(a) He is looking for antibodies to antigen X. Name the major isotype from mouse A and explain?

What is the major isotype from mouse B for antigen X and explain?

Will he see an anti Z antibody response from mouse A? yes or no and explain your answer?

If yes, then what would be the major isotype?

Answer 1

a) In mouse A major isotype of antibody against antigen X would be IgG, because in mouse A the antigen has produced secondary immune response as the student has injected the mice with antigen X for the second time.

in mice B also major isotype of antibody against antigen X would be IgG, because in mouse B also the antigen has produced secondary immune response as the student has injected the mice with antigen X for the second time.

b) he will see antibodies against antigen Z because in case of hapten and carrier antibodies are produced against both that is for hapten as well as for carrier.

but here isotype would be IgM because Z is producing primary immune response as it is injected first time.