A microdrop experiment was done following a suggestion of Dr. Frank Lanni (1) that T5, having at least two antigens involved in its neutralization, might by itself serve to determine whether a single cell can make antibody against more than one antigenic determinant and to see whether the heterogeneity of anti-T5 antibodies has its origin in a corresponding cellular heterogeneity. Lanni had shown (2, 3) that the survival of T5 plaque-forming ability after exposure to antiserum differs depending on whether it is assayed on Escherichia coli B or F and that this difference is due to reactions of antibodies with two antigens on the bacteriophage. Thus by examining single cells of an animal immunized with T5 for antibody neutralizing T5 plated on B or on F one can see whether a single cell synthesizes both antibodies. The materials and methods are as described in previous articles in this series (4–7).
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Attardi et al. (1964) studied this question.