玉米赤霉烯酮单克隆抗体和免疫酶技术研究

采用蛋白质连接技术合成玉米赤霉烯酮抗原,免疫Balb/c鼠,通过淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术建立六株分泌抗玉米赤霉烯酮的单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株。间接酶联免疫吸附试验测定细胞上清抗体效价为1:2084(4H8)、1:256(6H9、4H3、2H5、2C8)、1:16(3F10);腹水抗体效价为10~9(4H3、4H8)、10~8(2H5)、10~7(6H9)、10~5(3H10)。竞争间接酶联免疫吸附试验测定六株单克隆抗体对玉米赤霉烯酮的敏感度为0.3—0.8ng/ml。六株抗体与玉米亦霉烯醇的交叉反应率为1.3—9.0％。六株单克隆抗体均属IgG类。细胞体外传代培养和冻存复苏后分泌抗体稳定。纯化抗体在37℃保存12天稳定,-30℃保存90天抗体滴度不变。用该抗体建立竞争间接酶联免疫吸附试验检测掺合玉米赤霉烯酮的玉米、小麦、饲料,平均回收率分别为105％、90％、103％,平均批间变异系数为5.8％、2.8％、6.8％,批内变异系数为3.8％、12.7％、15.7％。样品中玉米赤霉烯酮掺合量与竞争间接酶联免疫吸附试验检出量有良好相关性(r≥0.9996)。     

基于纳米磁珠和双标记抗体的玉米赤霉烯酮快速、高灵敏检测方法的建立及应用

玉米赤霉烯酮(zeralenone,ZEN)具有雌激素活性,主要污染谷物和饲料,大量聚积可导致流产和死胎,给动物和人类健康带来严重威胁。本研究通过将ZEN偶联抗原ZEN-BSA包被于纳米磁珠(magnetic nanoparticles,MNPs),制备纳米磁珠-偶联抗原复合物(MNPs-BSA-ZEN),同时使用金颗粒(Au nanoparticles,AuNPs)和辣根过氧化物酶(horseradish peroxidase,HRP)双标记的ZEN单克隆抗体,建立新型酶联免疫检测方法(MNPs-HRP-AuNPsIC-ELISA)。检测下限(IC10)达到0.03ng/mL,检测区间(IC20–IC80)为0.05–0.89ng/mL,半数抑制率(IC50)为0.22ng/mL,与ZEN类似物(α-zearalanol、zearalanone、α-zearalenol、β-zearalenol和β-zearalanol)的交叉反应性依次为19.2%、11.7%、8.3%、1.2%和4.3%,与黄曲霉毒素B1、赭曲霉毒素A、伏马毒素B1、桔青霉素和展青霉毒素几乎不存在交叉反应。在玉米、面粉和大豆样本中的加标回收率可达81.6%–113.5%,与LC-MS/MS同时对天然样本中ZEN含量的检测结果表明,两种方法相关性良好。本研究建立的MNPs-HRP-AuNPs IC-ELISA具备快速和高灵敏的双重优势,也可为其他霉菌毒素精准检测技术的开发提供参考。     

赭曲霉毒素A和玉米赤霉烯酮-二联胶体金免疫层析试纸条的制备及应用

【背景】真菌毒素为真菌的有毒次级代谢产物,混合污染时毒性显著增强,可对人类和动物健康造成严重伤害。制备二联胶体金免疫层析试纸条,实现对常见真菌毒素混合污染的快速监测,具有重要意义。【目的】制备赭曲霉毒素A (Ochratoxin A,OTA)和玉米赤霉烯酮(Zeralenone,ZEN)金标单克隆抗体,基于免疫层析原理,采用竞争反应模式,建立二联胶体金免疫层析检测法用于污染样品中OTA和ZEN的同时快速检测。【方法】采用柠檬酸钠还原法制备胶体金颗粒,并标记获得两种真菌毒素金标单克隆抗体,通过优化相关条件,建立稳定的二联胶体金免疫层析检测方法,用于同时检测谷物和饲料样品中的OTA和ZEN。【结果】制备的OTA和ZEN二联胶体金试纸条对OTA和ZEN的检测限分别为0.625 ng/mL和1.25 ng/mL,且与谷物和饲料中其它真菌毒素(黄曲霉毒素B1、伏马毒素B1、桔青霉毒素、展青霉毒素和呕吐毒素)均无交叉反应,人工添加试验结果准确。对天然样本检测结果表明该方法与LC-MS/MS一致性良好。【结论】本研究制备的二联胶体金试纸条可用于实际样品中OTA和ZEN的同时快速筛查。     

黄曲霉毒素B1单克隆抗体的制备及间接竞争ELISA检测技术研究

【目的】制备黄曲霉毒素B1单克隆(AFB1)抗体,建立间接竞争ELISA检测方法用于污染样品中AFB1的检测。【方法】用碳二亚胺法制备黄曲霉毒素B1的完全抗原AFB1-BSA后免疫Balb/c小鼠,经过细胞融合和克隆化筛选获得抗AFB1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株。采用体内诱生腹水法制备抗体,通过间接ELISA方法分别测定抗体亚类和效价。经优化实验条件,建立稳定的间接竞争ELISA检测方法,并用于检测饲料样品中的黄曲霉毒素B1。【结果】获得4株稳定分泌抗AFB1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,选择3B9细胞株制备抗体,测定抗体亚类为IgG1,效价为1:204 800,与黄曲霉毒素B2、G1、G2和M1的交叉反应率分别为2.2%、33.9%、1.8%和4.1%,与赭曲霉毒素A、伏马毒素和玉米赤霉烯酮几乎不存在交叉反应。以此单抗构建了AFB1间接竞争ELISA检测方法,在AFB1浓度为1.04?25.00 μg/L范围内呈线性(R2=0.993 1),检测限为1.04 μg/L,半数抑制率(IC50)为6.03 μg/L,平均加标回收率在线性范围内可达85%?120%,变异系数均小于10%。【结论】通过饲料样品检测证实,该方法与进口ELISA试剂盒检测一致性良好,可用于实际样品中黄曲霉毒素B1的快速筛检。     

玉米赤霉烯酮的放射免疫分析

将玉米赤霉烯酮转变成玉米赤霉烯酮-6’-羧甲氧肟,通过混合酸酐法将其与牛血清白蛋白结合并用以免疫兔获得抗体。抗体效价可达1:4×10~4,亲合常数为4.25×10~(10)L/mol,灵敏度提高为3.5pg。样品平均回收率达92％。批内与批间变异系数分别为6.1％和8.6％。     

微生物降解玉米赤霉烯酮的研究进展

玉米赤霉烯酮（zearalenone,ZEN）是霉变谷物中常见的霉菌毒素之一,主要出现在霉变的玉米、小麦等谷物中,给畜禽和人类带来一定程度的健康危害,如生殖毒性、免疫毒性、肝毒性和肾毒性等。目前,解决玉米赤霉烯酮污染问题的方法包括物理、化学和生物3个途径。虽然传统的物理和化学脱毒方法已经运用在许多的饲料生产中,但同时也存在着二次污染的风险。生物降解法是一种利用微生物吸附和降解玉米赤霉烯酮的脱毒方法,具有安全环保、高效、特异性强和脱毒率高的特性,且不影响谷物的营养价值,已成为玉米赤霉烯酮降解研究的热点。本文主要介绍了近年来降解玉米赤霉烯酮的微生物种类,并将其归纳分类,从微生物的脱毒能力、脱毒方法和脱毒产物进行了叙述,综述了微生物脱毒的优点及前景,以期为微生物降解玉米赤霉烯酮的理论研究及实际应用提供新的视角。     

抗Dysbindin-1多肽双抗夹心ELISA的建立及在肝癌中的应用

目的:制备抗人Dysbindin-1特异性单克隆抗体,建立DAS-ELISA检测体系,并初步应用于肝癌血清的检测。方法:采用合成免疫原免疫BALB/c小鼠,通过杂交瘤技术制备抗Dysbindin-1单克隆抗体,用HRP标记单克隆抗体,ELISA和SDS-PAGE电泳法检测抗体的亚类、滴度;采用DAS-ELISA技术制备Dysbindin-1检测试剂盒,检测正常、肝硬化及肝癌患者各30例血清并比较其差异。结果:细胞融合后获得了4株稳定产生抗Dysbindin-1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株(1C6A11、1E8H3、2D1C11、5B6D4),抗体亚类分别为IgG2b,IgG2b,IgG1和IgG2a,杂交瘤细胞诱生的腹水抗体效价达106以上,通过抗体配对实验筛选确定2D1C11作为包被抗体,1E8H3作为酶标抗体。该ELISA方法线性范围为62.5-1000ng/mL,检测限为62.5ng/mL;应用该方法检测显示正常组与肝硬化组及肝癌组间差异显著(P0.001),Dysbindin-1诊断肝癌的敏感性和特异性分别为90%和93.3%。结论:Dysbindin-1可以成为新的候选的肝癌血清标志物,抗Dysbindin-1多肽双抗夹心ELISA体系可以初步应用于肝癌的早期诊断。     

玉米赤霉烯酮单克隆抗体酶联免疫测定方法的建立及初步应用

用ZEN—BSA人工抗原免疫BALB／c鼠,经融合、筛选和克隆化得到可稳定分泌抗ZEN单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株ZEN—lC6。zEN一lC6属IgG₁,纯化腹水抗体效价为10^-5,与5种衍生物的交叉反应系数为0.16～1.20％。用ZEN一1C6建立了检测食品(玉米、小麦、大米)中玉米赤霉烯酮的CIEIA法。该法检测纯毒素的线性范围为5～1000ng／ml,最低检出浓度为0．1ng／ml,平均回收率为84．0～105．5％。用该法测定了81份样品,均有ZEN毒素检出。     

玉米赤霉烯酮脱毒菌PA26-7的分离鉴定及其应用效果评价

【背景】玉米赤霉烯酮(zearalenone,ZEN)是广泛污染粮谷类作物的一种雌激素类真菌毒素,不仅给农业经济带来巨大损失,还能通过食物链对人和动物健康造成危害。【目的】从微生态制剂中筛选获得能够高效降解玉米赤霉烯酮的菌株,优化其脱毒条件,测定其在饲料中的实际脱毒效果及对饲料中植酸、维生素含量变化的影响。【方法】从微生态制剂中分离出玉米赤霉烯酮降解菌,通过细胞计数试剂盒-8 (cell counting kit-8, CCK-8)测定菌株降解玉米赤霉烯酮产物的细胞毒性和雌激素活性,通过高效液相色谱法测定分离株在培养基和饲料中的解毒效果,以及分离株在霉变的豆粕、麸皮和成品饲料中固态发酵前后维生素的含量变化,通过三氯化铁比色法测定饲料脱毒前后植酸的含量变化。【结果】从微生态制剂中筛选出一株通过分泌胞外酶高效降解玉米赤霉烯酮的贝莱斯芽孢杆菌(Bacillus velezensis) PA26-7,该菌株在培养基起始pH 4.0-8.0、培养温度25-60℃条件下均可降解玉米赤霉烯酮,产物的细胞毒性和雌激素活性均较ZEN弱。PA26-7经固态发酵72h后,饲料原料(豆粕和麸皮)及霉变的成品鸡...     

hGH单克隆抗体的筛选及双抗体夹心ELISA检测方法的建立

采用杂交瘤法制备单克隆抗体,并用辛酸-硫酸铵法纯化单抗,通过ELISA方法和Western blotting测定抗体的效价与特异性,并进行抗体类型、相对亲和力测定;应用纯化的单抗建立hGH双抗体夹心ELISA检测方法。筛选出两株可以稳定分泌抗hGH单抗的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为3E11、2G9,抗体类型均为IgG1,抗体滴度均可达10-10,特异性好,相对亲和力高,以筛选到的两株单抗建立的双抗夹心ELISA法线性范围为0.09～1.5625ng/mL,R2>0.9,灵敏度为0.09ng/mL。筛选出高效抗hGH的单抗,并建立了hGH双抗体夹心ELISA检测方法。     

Protein G: a powerful tool for binding and detection of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies

Protein G is an immunoglobulin (IgG)-binding bacterial cell wall protein recently isolated from group G streptococci. We have investigated the avidity of protein G for various monoclonal and polyclonal Ig of the IgG class, and compared it with the binding properties of protein A, the staphylococcal Fc-binding protein. Radiolabeled Ig were mixed with Sepharose-coupled protein G or protein A, and the amounts of radioactivity bound to the matrix-coupled bacterial proteins were determined. The avidity was found to be greater for protein G than for protein A for all examined Ig. Protein G bound all tested monoclonal IgG from mouse IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3, and rat IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG2c. In addition, polyclonal IgG from man, cow, rabbit, goat, rat, and mouse bound to protein G, whereas chicken IgG did not. The binding property of protein G was additionally exploited in the Western blot assay, in which iodine-labeled protein G was used successfully for the detection of a rat monoclonal antibody against ovalbumin, and for the detection of rabbit and goat polyclonal whole antisera against human urinary proteins. In these experimental situations, protein G was found to be a powerful reagent for the detection of IgG, and consequently the antigen against which these antibodies are directed.     

Preparation monoclonal β-type anti-idiotype antibody of zearalenone and development of green ELISA quantitative detecting technique

Abstract

Immunoassay has been widely used in the screening of mycotoxins, which may be hazardous to the operator or the environment. This study was to develop a green way to measure zearalenone (ZEN) with a monoclonal β-type anti-idiotype antibody (Ab2β) against ZEN in place of ZEN standard. Six monoclonal β-type anti-idiotype antibodies were prepared. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value to ZEN of the six antibodies was between 34.45?±?1.12–182.12?±?15.40?nM. A green ELISA was then developed and validated. The quantitative conversion formula between ZEN and the monoclonal Ab2β against ZEN was y?=?0.092x^0.722, R² = 0.990. The working range was 2.63–100.64?ng ml^?1. The recovery rate in spiked feed samples was from 82.15% to 102.79%, and the within-assay and between-assay coefficient variation (CV) level were less than 10.00%. A good correlation was obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) to validate the developed method.     

快速同时检测玉米赤霉烯酮和脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇的研究

目的：利用稀土离子作为示踪剂,建立DON/ZEN双标记间接竞争时间分辨荧光免疫分析方法同时检测DON、ZEN。 方法：以DON BSA、ZEN-BSA共包被于固相微孔板,与DON/ZEN标准或样品中的DON、ZEN竞争结合抗DON多抗、抗ZEN单抗,然后分别用稀土离子Eu3+-羊抗兔IgG及Sm3+ 羊抗鼠IgG进行示踪检测,并对建立DON/ZEN-双标记TRFIA进行方法学的考核。结果：DON/ZEN-双标记TRFIA检测灵敏度,DON为0.2 ng/ml、ZEN为0.7 ng/ml,检测范围为：DON 0.2~100 ng/ml,ZEN 0.7~50 ng/ml,批内、批间变异率均小于10%。不同样品添加回收实验表明玉米、小麦样品中DON平均回收率分别为102.8%、98.8%,ZEN平均回收率分别为94.2%、95.7%。DON/ZEN-双标TRFIA检测时,DON与ZEN不相互干扰,该方法特异性好。玉米样品检测结果表明,DON/ZEN双标记TRFIA与单标记DON -TRFIA、ZEN-TRFIA试剂盒结果高度相关,具有较好的一致性,两者检测DON的结果相关系数为0.9760,检测ZEN结果的相关系数为0.9695,结论：DON/ZEN-双标记TRFIA灵敏度高,检测范围宽,重复性、稳定性好,一次检测可同时得到DON、ZEN两个结果,是一种简便、快速、经济、稳定、可进行大批量样品筛查的检测方法。     

Syngeneic anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies against an anti-human chorionic gonadotrophin antibody

Monoclonal antibody designated 1B10 (Mab 1B10) has been shown to be highly specific for the beta-chain of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). We used this antibody to investigate its paratope using anti-idiotypic antibodies. Purified Mab 1B10 has been used to immunize syngeneic BALB/c mice to produce anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies. An enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) on Mab 1B10 coated plate was employed to screen the supernatants of growing hybridomas. The specificity of each antibody selected was assessed using an inhibition ELISA and immunoblotting. Monoclonal antibodies belonging to two categories were selected. (a) Those (designated Mab 4F8 and Mab 7G9) recognizing epitopes of the Ig molecule located in/or near the antigen-binding site of Mab 1B10. In ELISA these antibodies were shown to inhibit in a dose-dependent manner, the reaction of Mab 1B10 with its specific antigen; (b) those (Mab 2B8, Mab 3B8) reacting with epitopes located outside of the antigen binding site of the antiHCG antibody molecule and did not influence the reactions of Mab 1B10 and its antigen. Following immunization of syngeneic BALB/c mice monoclonal antibodies (Mab 4F8, Mab 7G9) were produced which recognized epitopes located on the variable region of Mab 1B10 since they did not react with other marine monoclonal antibodies of the same isotype. These antibodies inhibited the binding of Mab 1B10 to its corresponding epitope on the molecule of HCG and they can be defined as syngeneic anti-idiotypic antibodies.     

An Electron Microscopical Study of the Interaction of Monoclonal Antibodies with Gametes of the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum1

Anti-malarial gamete antibodies prevent the fertilization of gametes in the mosquito midgut and prevent transmission of malaria. Recently, hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (10G3 and 11C7) against gametes of the malarial parasite have been developed. These antibodies act synergistically to mediate 80–90% suppression of the infectivity of gametocytes, although neither monoclonal antibody alone has a significant effect on gametocyte infectivity. We performed immuno-electron microscopy to characterize the interactions of these monoclonal antibodies with gametes of Plasmodium gallinaceum. Male gametes exposed to either 10G3 or 11C7 agglutinated into loose clusters, while those exposed to a mixture of 10G3 and 11C7 agglutinated into long, rope-like bundles. This difference appears to be related to the distribution of the antibodies on the surface of the gametes. When 10G3 or 11C7 labeled with a ferritin-conjugated anti-mouse Ig were used singly, the ferritin particles were distributed in focal areas over the surface of the parasites. By contrast, when the male gametes were exposed to a mixture of 10G3 and 11C7, the ferritin particles were distributed over their entire surface. Female gametes reacted similarly to these antibodies. These observations indicate that combinations of antibody specificities that reduce fertilization efficiency coat the entire surface of the gametes. On the other hand, focal interactions resulting from a single antibody are unable to block fertilization.     

Monoclonal antibodies identify common and differentiation-specific antigens on the plasma membrane of guard cells of Vicia faba L.

Monoclonal antibodies were raised against the plasma membrane of Vicia faba L. guard cells by immunizing either with total membranes from purified guard-cell protoplasts or with sealed, predominantly right-side-out plasma-membrane vesicles prepared from abaxial epidermes of V. faba by aqueous two-phase partitioning. Hybridoma screening was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using polystyrene-adsorbed plasma-membrane vesicles as solid phase and by indirect immunofluorescence analysis using unfixed, immobilized protoplasts in a microvolume Terasaki assay. A range of monoclonal antibodies was characterized and is reported here. One monoclonal antibody, G26-6-B2, is guard-cell-specific and does not react with mesophyll-cell protoplasts of the same species. It binds to a periodate-resistant but trypsin-labile epitope, probably a differentiation-specific plasma-membrane protein.Abbreviations ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - GCP guard cell protoplast(s) - Ig immunoglobulin - MAB monoclonal antibody - MCP mesophyll-cell protoplast(s) - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Evidence for an IgD homologue on chicken lymphocytes

Chicken lymphocyte membrane immunoglobulins (Ig), were precipitated with mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for heavy and light chain isotypes and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Very little or no membrane-bound IgG and IgA was detected. After sequential precipitation and removal of IgM reactive with any of three monoclonal anti-mu antibodies, anti-light chain antibody precipitated residual Ig with a relative electrophoretic mobility similar to that of IgM. Under reducing conditions, these surface Ig molecules had a heavy chain that appeared slightly larger (approximately 81,000 daltons) than mu-chain (approximately 79,000 daltons), and light chains of approximately 25,000 daltons. Complete clearance of membrane-bound IgM reactive with an anti-mu allotype antiserum left similar molecules precipitate by monoclonal anti-light chain antibody. These non-IgM molecules could be detected on the surface of lymphocytes from blood, spleen, bursa and the B cell line RAV-1, but not from thymus or blood from an agammaglobulinemic chicken. After capping of B cell surface IgM with anti-mu, immunofluorescent staining with anti-light chain antibody revealed residual Ig molecules disturbed across the surface of more than 90% of the IgM-bearing cells. The data suggest the existence of an avian homologue of mammalian IgD. Affinity-purified goat anti-mu antibodies and a fourth monoclonal anti-mu antibody reacted with both IgM and the putative IgD molecules, which suggests that the IgD homologue shares at least one common determinant with chicken IgM.     

Detection of multiple antigenically related proteins from various rat tissues by monoclonal antibodies against 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Mouse hybridomas were prepared by fusing myelomas and spleen cells from mice immunized with purified rat 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies against 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were selected by indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay and then subcloned by limiting dilution. From two mice we have obtained four positive hybridomas, three secreting high affinity immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 and one secreting IgM. Only two of these monoclonal antibodies (MAbs 3G6 and 7D3, both IgG1) recognized denatured enzyme and, therefore, were used for further immunoblotting experiments. MAb 7D3 recognized a structurally related mouse enzyme, but not the human enzyme, whereas monoclonal antibody 3G6 recognized a human enzyme, but not the mouse enzyme. When these two monoclonal antibodies were used in immunoblotting to survey the expression of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat liver and a number of other tissues, striking differences were found in the protein band patterns in kidney, lung, and testis. Both MAbs 7D3 and 3G6 recognized 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, a 34-kDa 7D3 recognized a protein of the same size as the liver protein, whereas MAb 3G6 recognized a 34-kDa protein plus another protein of 36 kDa. In kidney only MAb 3G6, but not MAb 7D3, recognized a 34-kDa protein. Conversely, the 34-kDa protein in testis was recognized by MAb 7D3, but not by MAb 3G6. These findings suggest the existence of multiple antigenically related proteins in different tissues.     

Circulating monoclonal IgM proteins in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: their identification, characterization and relationship to membrane IgM

Accumulated evidence indicates that there is a circulating monoclonal Ig protein related to the leukemic cell-associated Ig in the majority of patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) despite the failure to demonstrate such a protein by conventional serum electrophoresis. Methodology has been developed to reveal these hidden monoclonal bands and to show that they are related to the leukemia-associated membrane Ig (mIg). Of nine CLL cases with stainable mIgM and without discernable plasma Ig bands, marked hypogammaglobulinemia was evident in six. In the other three, a significant amount of protein was present in the gamma region. IgM was isolated from the plasma of these patients by affinity chromatography with Sepharose-4B, conjugated with affinity purified anti-human IgM antibodies. One to 3 mg were isolated from 20 to 40 ml of plasma. Agarose electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal Ig band in the isolated IgM in all cases. Eight of these IgM proteins were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Five were found to be pentameric IgM. In the remaining three, various amounts of monomeric IgM were detected. Attempts to make anti-idiotypic antibodies to the isolated proteins have been successful. Thus far, a rabbit anti-idiotypic antiserum was obtained in one case and two mouse monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies in two additional cases. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that plasma IgM and mIgM shared similar idiotypic determinants. One other monoclonal antibody was shown to be specific for a V region marker of a minor Ig population. These findings indicate that B leukemic lymphocytes do secrete a small amount of IgM and lend further support to the thesis that the maturation defect in CLL is incomplete. It is also feasible to isolate the secreted IgM and to produce anti-idiotypic antibodies to them. In view of the potential therapeutic effect of anti-idiotypic antibodies, this may offer an alternative and efficient approach to generate a large panel of anti-idiotypic antibodies for clinical trials. The possibility also exists that this approach is applicable to other B cell proliferative disorders such as the non-Hodgkin B cell lymphomas.