Cyclic kinetics and mathematical expression of the primary immune response to soluble antigen

The kinetics and the distribution of antigen and antibody were shown to be similar in four species of experimental animals and in two species of wild rodents immunized with the protein-polysaccharide capsular plague antigen. Serologically active antigen and antibody were detected in homologous conjugating serological tests. Soluble antigen persists at the injection site for as long as a week and adsorbed antigen for two weeks or more. Antigen persists in the blood of animals for 2–4 days. In regional popliteal lymph nodes, antigen was detected for the first days, followed by antibody in both lymph node and blood. Plasma cell response was more intensive in animals inoculated with adsorbed antigen. The gradual decrease of antigen at the injection site shows superimposed up-and-down changes, mostly parallel with the antibody in the popliteal lymph node and blood, as well as with plasma cell response in the regional lymph node. Serological cycles were related to the resistance of immunized white mice to plague infection. Cyclic kinetics of specific polysaccharide in the faeces of dysentery patients was found.