Abstract
Summary
Nonimmune complexing of macromolecules has been observed in many systems, and in studies with honey bee venom such a phenomenon was suspected. The present study attempted to define the components of an interaction observed during gel diffusion between venom and serum.
Various honey bee venoms and individual components of venom were diffused in agar or agarose against sera from numerous animal species and serum components. Whole venom or mellitin yielded precipitin bands with whole serum or lipoprotein components. Other venom and serum components failed to yield a precipitin line. In addition, a “halo” effect was noticed around whole venom or mellitin in agar, but not agarose.
A possible basis for these nonimmune interactions may relate to the highly charged nature of the mellitin molecule. An awareness of these interactions would seem critical in any immunochemical investigations of honey bee venom.
This study establishes that both immune and nonimmune precipitates may occur simultaneously in gel-diffusion studies. Unless care is taken, the interpretation of such tests can result in erroneous conclusions concerning the antigenicity of certain substances.
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