Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis: Species Variability of the Encephalitogenic Determinant

Summary Modifcation of the single tryptophan residue of the basic protein (BP) isolated from bovine brain results in the loss of encephalitogenic activity in guinea pigs. In contrast, when these same modified BP preparations are tested in Lewis rats they still cause experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). These findings suggest that different encephalitogenic determinants are responsible for EAE in these species.