INFECTIOUS MYXOMATOSIS OF RABBITS : II. DEMONSTRATION OF A SECOND SOLUBLE ANTIGEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISEASE.

A second soluble antigen, separable from the virus, occurs in extracts of infected skin and in the serum of rabbits acutely ill with infectious myxomatosis. Like the first antigen (A), the second (B) is heat labile and has certain characteristics of a globulin. The two antigens precipitate in different concentrations of ammonium sulfate and can be separated by this method. Neither of the antigens after being heated at 56 degrees C. precipitates in the presence of specific antibody but each is capable of inhibiting the activity of its antibody.