Enhanced antibody responses to antigens presented on autologous erythrocytes

On a dose basis, antigen coupled to autologous red blood cells is 1,000--10,000-fold more efficient at inducing an antibody response than the soluble form. More than one antigen can be coupled simultaneously to the same red blood cells. Under these circumstances, prior immunization with one antigen enhances the antibody response to the other antigen, provided both antigens are coupled to the same red cell. Thus, the technique of coupling antigens to red blood cells is a means of producing high-titred antisera without the use of adjuvant and also represents a useful procedure for preparing composite antigens for probing cell-cell interaction in the immune response.