Antigen for early pregnancy test and contraceptive vaccine

Claim 2

An antigen which is capable of being administered to a host animal to induce an antibody response which is generally selective to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinquishing degree from luteinizing hormone, which comprises a β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin which has been reduced such that four of intrachain disulfide bonds are cleaved, and wherein said cleaved disulfide bonds have been alkylated, and wherein said subunit is further conjugated with a protein or a hapten which functions to enhance the antibody response to said antigen when the said antigen is administered to said host animal.

Claim 3

The antigen of claim 1, wherein said protein or hapten is selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine.

Claim 4

The antigen of claim 1, wherein said antigen is further modified by a reaction of the terminal carboxy group thereof with a nucleophile.

Claim 5

The antigen of claim 3, wherein said nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine ethyl ester and glycine ethyl ester.

Claim 6

An antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, which is produced by the process comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten which enhances the immunogenetic specificity of said antigen, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating and said conjugating being carried out first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 7

An antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, which is produced by the process comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten which enhances the immunogenetic specificity of said antigen, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating and said conjugating being carried out first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 8

The antiserum of claim 5, wherein said protein or hapten is selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine.

Claim 9

The antiserum of claim 5, wherein said antigen is further modified by a reaction of the terminal carboxy group thereof with a nucleophile.

Claim 10

The antiserum of claim 7, wherein said nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine ethyl ester and glycine ethyl ester.

Claim 11

An antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, which is produced by the process comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating, and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 12

An antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, which is produced by the process comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating, and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 13

The antiserum of claim 9, wherein said antigen is further modified by a reaction of the terminal carboxy group thereof with a nucleophile.

Claim 14

The antiserum of claim 10, wherein said nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine ethyl ester and glycine ethyl ester.

Claim 15

A process for producing an antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten which enhances the immunogenetic specificity of said antigen, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 16

A process for producing an antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten which enhances the immunogenetic specificity of said antigen, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 17

The process of claim 12, wherein said protein or hapten is selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine.

Claim 18

The process of claim 12, wherein said antigen is further modified by a reaction of the terminal carboxy group thereof with a nucleophile.

Claim 19

The process of claim 14, wherein said nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine ethyl ester and glycine ethyl ester.

Claim 20

A process for producing an antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, which is produced by the process comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 21

A process for producing an antiserum which is generally selective in reactivity to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, which is produced by the process comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, and extracting said antiserum from said animal.

Claim 22

The process of claim 16, wherein said antigen is further modified by a reaction of the terminal carboxy group thereof with a nucleophile.

Claim 23

The process of claim 17, wherein said nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of thyrosine ethyl ester and glycine ethyl ester.

Claim 24

A process for producing an antigen which is capable of being administered to a host animal to induce an antibody response which is generally selective to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, conjugating said antigen with a protein or hapten to enhance its immunogenetic specificity, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating, and said conjugating being carried out first, and isolating the antigen produced thereby.

Claim 25

A process for producing an antigen which is capable of being administered to a host animal to induce an antibody response which is generally selective to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, conjugating said antigen with a protein or hapten to enhance its immunogenetic specificity, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating, and said conjugating being carried out first, and isolating the antigen produced thereby.

Claim 26

The process of claim 19, wherein said protein or hapten is selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine.

Claim 27

The process of claim 20, wherein said antigen is further modified by a reaction of the terminal carboxy group thereof with a nucleophile.

Claim 28

The process of claim 21, wherein said nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine ethyl ester and glycine ethyl ester.

Claim 29

A process for producing an antigen which is capable of being administered to a host animal to induce an antibody response which is generally selective to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain of disulfide groups, conjugating said antigen with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl, alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating, and said conjugating being carried out first, and isolating the antigen produced thereby.

Claim 30

A process for producing an antigen which is capable of being administered to a host animal to induce an antibody response which is generally selective to human chorionic gonadotropin to a distinguishing degree from luteinizing hormone, comprising: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain of disulfide groups, conjugating said antigen with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl, alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving, and alkylating, and said conjugating being carried out first, and isolating the antigen produced thereby.

Claim 31

The process of claim 23, wherein said antigen is further modified by a reaction of the terminal carboxy group thereof with a nucleophile.

Claim 32

The process of claim 24, wherein said nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine ethyl ester and glycine ethyl ester.

Claim 33

The process of claim 19 or 23, wherein said β-subunit is purified by dissociating human chorionic gonadotropin into α- and β-subunits with a 10 Molar aqueous urea solution, chromatographing said dissociated human chorionic gonadotropin successively on columns of a cross-linked modified polysaccharide using a step-wise gradient, and crosslinked polydextran, whereby said β-subunit is isolated, and subsequently treating the isolated β-subunit with an immunoadsorbent capable of adsorbing said β-subunit.

Claim 34

An antibody comprising an antiserum coated on a solid support generally selective in reactivity to hCG to a distinguishing degree from LH wherein said antibody is produced by the process which comprises: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving and alkylating, and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, extracting said antiserum from said animal, and coating said antiserum on a solid support.

Claim 35

An antibody comprising an antiserum coated on a solid support generally selective in reactivity to hCG to a distinguishing degree from LH wherein said antibody is produced by the process which comprises: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving three of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten selected from the group consisting of albumin, hemocyanin, thyroglobulin, and muramyl alanyl isoglutamine, either of said reducing, cleaving and alkylating, and said conjugating being performed first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, extracting said antiserum from said animal, and coating said antiserum on a solid support.

Claim 36

The antibody bound of claim 27, wherein said solid support is a polystyrene tube.

Claim 37

An antibody comprising an antiserum coated on a solid support generally selective in reactivity to hCG to a distinguishing degree from LH wherein said antibody is produced by the process which comprises: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten which enhances the immunogenetic specificity of said antigen, either of said reducing, cleaving and alkylating and said conjugating being carried out first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, extracting said antiserum from said animal, and coating said antiserum on a solid support.

Claim 38

An antibody comprising an antiserum coated on a solid support generally selective in reactivity to hCG to a distinguishing degree from LH wherein said antibody is produced by the process which comprises: isolating the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, reducing and cleaving four of the intrachain disulfide bonds of said β-subunit, alkylating the thus reduced intrachain disulfide groups, and conjugating said β-subunit with a protein or hapten which enhances the immunogenetic specificity of said antigen, either of said reducing, cleaving and alkylating and said conjugating being carried out first, isolating said antigen, administering said antigen to a host animal whereby said animal generates an antibody response to said antigen, extracting said antiserum from said animal, and coating said antiserum on a solid support.

Claim 39

The antibody bound of claim 29, wherein said solid support is a polystyrene tube.