Immune response genes in chickens

The immunogenecity in chickens of the synthetic polypeptide TGAL is shown to be highly batch-dependent. Antibodies of at least two quite different specificities were formed: an MHC-linked anti-TG response, and a non-TG response (probably to poly-alanine) which is not linked to the MHC. Immunization with the random copolymer GT also gave rise to an anti-TG antibody response which showed a firm linkage to theB complex. It is concluded that GT may serve as a useful marker for an MHC-linked gene in chickens. Surprisingly, conjugation of GT to the immunogenic carrier MBSA did not convert low GT responder chickens to high responders. This finding raises the possibility that the low responder status may be the result of specific suppressor cells.