Abstract
Summary
Tests with purified preparations of 6 strains of tobacco mosaic virus and anti-sera produced in rabbits with each of these strains show that the complement fixation reaction can be used for differentiating mutant strains of this virus. In some cases, antibody remaining after absorption of specific antiserum with heterologous antigen could be detected by complement fixation in the presence of homologous antigen. In one case, a significantly lower antiserum dilution end-point was attained in the heterologous reaction than in the homologous reaction. Finally, strains were found to differ in optimum antigenic units, in the weight of antigen required to react optimally with specific immune serum. The suggestion is made that complement fixation can be used to measure tobacco mosaic virus concentration.
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