Mouse Strain-Specific Idiotypy and Interstrain Idiotypic Cross-Reactions

Genetic studies with the crosses and backcrosses of SWR/J and A/J mice indicate that the idiotypic determinants of Group A streptococcal antibodies segregate in a Mendelian fashion. The idiotypic reactions were inhibited with phenyl-β-N-acetyl-glucosaminide which contains immunodominant determinants of the Group A carbohydrate. Some of the absorbed idiotypic antisera to SWR/J and A/J Group A antibodies failed to detect strain-specific idiotypic determinants. Such anti-idiotypic sera exhibited interstrain idiotypic cross-reactions with the Group A antibodies from a number of different mouse strains. These idiotypic cross-reactions were also inhibited by phenyl-β-N-acetyl-glucosaminide, a finding which suggests that these interstrain idiotypic cross-reactions are dependent at least in part on site-associated determinants.