Question

Still in search of an antibody specific for ferret IgA, you contact a lab studying ferret reproductive biology.  They send you a monoclonal antibody that binds to IgA present in the mucosal secretions and breastmilk of ferrets; however, when you test this antibody, you find that it does not bind to the IgA present in ferret blood.  What is the most likely explanation for this binding activity?  Why does this mouse anti-ferret IgA monoclonal antibody bind to IgA from secretions but not IgA from blood?

Answer 1

Hello,

IgA is a dimeric antibody that is found in body secretions like colostrum,saliva and is present in serum as well.Further,IgA has two isotypes namely IgA1 and IgA2.IgA1 antibodies are found in serum while,IgA2 antibodies are found in secretions(colostrum,saliva,tears).Since the monoclonal antibody that bound to IgA present in the secretions was used,so it will only bind to the IgA antibody present in the secretion and not to the IgA from blood as antibodies have very specific binding sites.

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