Antibody production in goat milk serum after virus instillation of goat mammary gland. V. Biochemical isolation and further characterization of antibodies to various influenza and mumps viruses

This report describes the development of a method for the isolation of antibodies produced in the mammary gland and found in the milk after the instillation and propagation of various myxoviruses. Biochemical fractionation and isolation procedures have been modified and improved over our previous initial reports. The antibodies of the various influenza and mumps viruses that propagated in the gland were found to be associated with lactogammaglobulin. This report also demonstrates that the antibodies produced in the gland and thus given off in the milk are probably the same as those found in the blood if the animal were infected by conventional routes. Purification of the lactoglobulin protein fraction containing the antibody eliminated the non-specific inhibitors. These results were obtained from the various myxoviruses and mumps that propagated in the goat mammary gland.The main advantages of using the mammary gland as compared to using laboratory animals and their blood are as follows.1. Larger volumes of antibodies can be produced at one time (lactation period) against the influenza and mumps viruses for diagnostic and possibly for therapeutic uses.2. The animal (goat) does not appear to be affected whatsoever by the virus instillation and propagation techniques.3. The milk technique is therefore more humane towards laboratory animals. Invariably the laboratory animal does not have to be sacrificed.