Abstract
Summary
Titers of antibodies against a group-specific antigenic component of vertex capsomers of human adenoviruses have been determined in sera from healthy and adenovirus-infected individuals. For this purpose a hemagglutination-enhancement (HE) test based on the capacity of antibodies to convert penton incomplete hemagglutinins of types 3 and 11 into hemagglutinating aggregates, was employed.
Penton HE antibodies had been acquired in about 75% of all individuals before the age of 5 years and the percentage approached 100 at the age of 15 years. After the primary adenovirus infection, penton HE antibodies appeared to remain at a titer of 40 or higher. Renewed adenovirus infections caused booster increases of the base line HE titers. These rises of antibody titers can be practically employed for serological diagnosis of adenovirus infections. The relative usefulness of the penton HE test as compared to the group-specific complement fixation test is discussed.
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