Formation of Neutralizing Antibody in Monkeys Injected with Poliomyelitis Virus and Adjuvants. ∗

It has been long known that rhesus monkeys receiving repeated injections of poliomyelitis virus produce neutralizing antibodies. Recently Morgan, Howe, and Bodian(1) and Morgan(2) studied the effect of dosage, route of administration of the antigen and other factors on the hyperimmunization against this virus. No evidence was found that antibody formation was augmented by the incorporation of the Lansing type of virus into a water-in-oil emulsion with or without tubercle bacilli (1,3).

Our hope for the effectiveness of these adjuvants in relation to poliomyelitis virus was raised by results obtained recently with another neurotropic virus, namely, that of rabies(4). It was found that rabbits or guinea pigs, given a single injection of brain containing inactivated rabies virus emulsified in paraffin oil and one month later a few more injections of the same antigen in salt solution, produced neutralizing and complement fixing antibodies in great abundance.

Material and methods. As an immunizing agent, monkey spinal cord, containing active poliomyelitis virus of the Lansing type, was used. It was suspended in salt solution with the aid of a Waring blendor. The antigen was injected either in this form or emulsified in paraffin oil with or without the addition of a small amount of killed Myco. butyricum. The technic of emulsification and the ingredients used have been described previously (5). Immature rhesus monkeys (Macacca mulatta) as a rule, were given 5 simultaneous injections. The sites were the pectoralis, and the flexor muscles of the femur and the subcutaneous tissue of the nuchal region. One monkey (Group IIIa) received the primary injection in the footpads. The “booster” injections were the same for all groups, namely, the antigen in salt solution. The data are given in Table I.