Specificity of antigens in aqueous phenol extracts of skin examined by means of guinea pig and rabbit immune sera.

Human, guinea pig and rabbit skin homogenates were digested with trypsin and extracted with phenol water. Antisera were raised in guinea pigs and rabbits by immunization with extract recovered from the water phase (TPW extract). All sera showed increased titres in indirect haemagglutination tests. The results of absorption and inhibition experiments indicated antibodies against a common antigenic determinant. These antibodies also agglutinated erythrocytes sensitized with autologous antigen. In addition, serum from rabbits immunized with human or guinea pig skin extract contained antibodies against species-specific determinants. Rabbit antiserum precipitated guinea pig skin extract. The antigen involved had specificity identical with that of an antigen in the human, but not in the rabbit skin, extract. Oxidation of the human TPW extract with periodate destroyed the precipitinogen and the species-specific haemagglutinogen while the common determinant was not affected.