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Abstract
Subcutaneous immunisation of rabbits with crude cholera exotoxin induced a functional immunity in the gut to toxin challenge that was superior to that of non-immunised controls. Two injections given 3 wk apart gave markedly better protection than one injection. The functional immunity appeared to be of short duration, because the resistance 2 wk after a second injection was less than it was 4–5 days after immunisation. With prolonged storage of the crude toxin its immunogenicity increased markedly; this was related to aggregation of a considerable portion of the toxin. The correlation between the magnitude of immunity in the gut and the serum levels of neutralising antibodies was often poor suggesting that antibodies formed locally in the gut may be of significance for protection.
- Received:
- Accepted:
- Published Online: