Absence of amplification role of the protein KLH on antibody response generated by a MAP Staphyloccocus aureus enterotoxin A (SEA) peptide comparing with the corresponding monomeric peptide

The extent of reaction of the antibodies to the MAP construct with the parent protein was found to be significantly less than the antibodies raised against the monomeric peptide co-immunized with or conjugated to a carrier protein but more that the antibodies raised against the peptide alone. Inversely, co-immunization of the MAP with the KLH was not able to raise the immune response as it was observed with the monomeric peptide. The results suggest that, for the epitope chosen here, MAP constructs were not the most effective option to induce sera with high levels of antibodies that react with the native protein.