Immune response to Trichomonas vaginalis. I. Genetic regulation of IgE antibody response to T. vaginalis in mice.

The antigenicity of Trichomonas vaginalis to elicit IgE antibody was examined in mice. The soluble antigen was prepared by sonication of in vitro cultured T. vaginalis lines. BALB/c mice were immunized by various doses of the antigen with alum followed by a booster injection on day 14 after primary injection of the protozoan antigen. The highest IgE antibody titer was found in mice immunized with 30 micrograms of the antigen. The IgE antibody response to Trichomonas antigen is regulated by at least two immune response genes: one localized in the I region (K to I-B subregions) of chromosome 17, the other in a not yet identified chromosome.