Abstract
Haemagglutinating substances specific for human red cells of group A have been extracted from certain beans (1–3). So far there has been no satisfactory explanation for this phenomenon.
The Forssman antigen is a serological concept embracing substances which when injected into rabbits produce haemolysins, but little or no agglutinins, for sheep's cells. Forssman antigens are present in the red cells of sheep, chickens and man (group A). They are absent from red cells but present in the tissues of many species, e.g., the guinea pig. Their distribution in nature has been tabulated by Boyd (4). They are not present in beans. It would be of considerable interest if beans were found to contain Forssman antibodies.
A fresh extract of the seeds of Dolichos biflorus was prepared by the method used by Boyd and Reguera (2) for small quantities of seeds. Fresh 2% suspensions of the well-washed red cells of various species were put up against this extract.
Footnotes
- Received April 11, 1952.
- Copyright © 1952 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
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