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Short Chapter Title 1109<br />

158<br />

Immunogen Preparation and Immunization Procedures<br />

for Rats and Mice<br />

Mark Page and Robin Thorpe<br />

1. Introduction<br />

A high-titer antibody response usually requires use of an adjuvant for the first<br />

(priming) immunization. For most purposes, the immunogen is prepared by emulsification<br />

in a mineral oil containing heat-killed mycobacterium (Freund’s complete<br />

adjuvant—FCA). The emulsion ensures that the antigen is released slowly into the<br />

animal’s circulation, and the bacteria stimulate the animal’s T-helper cell arm of<br />

the immune system. Further booster (secondary) immunizations are almost always<br />

necessary for production of high antibody levels, and these are given either in phosphatebuffered<br />

saline (PBS) or as an oil emulsion (bacteria are not normally included in the<br />

boosting injections; a suitable oil adjuvant is Freund’s incomplete adjuvant—FIA).<br />

A large number of alternative adjuvants are available, but FCA/FIA (for priming and<br />

boosting respectively) usually produces maximal immune responses. However, FCA<br />

in particular can produce adverse effects in some cases and is not normally recommended<br />

for use in humans or primates Alum adjuvants are often chosen as an alternative<br />

and can be used in humans. Immunization with substances with molecular weights<br />

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