COMPARATIVE SEROLOGY OF SOME BRACHYURAN CRUSTACEA AND STUDIES IN HEMOCYANIN CORRESPONDENCE

¹ Department of Zoology and Bureau of Biological Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J.

Serological Systematics is a branch of Serology concerned primarily with the classification of organisms. The taxonomic characters usually concerned are the serum proteins of organisms. The natural relationships obtained are those revealed by an antiserum in combination with its homologous antigen and various heterologous antigens which react in proportion to their degrees of correspondence to the homologous antigen. Many factors influence the antigen-antibody reaction. A few conditions which are of importance to studies in systematic serology have been investigated and the results given.

Antigens tested for comparability under a variety of the circumstances met in ordinary laboratory handling such as freezing, filtration and centrifugation, showed no significant deviation from each other in their serological activity. Age, within the limits stated, was shown to have no effect on the serological activity of serum antigens which are sterile filtered and stored just above freezing. Antigens in cold storage for as long as 15 years had the same activity as freshly prepared samples. Pooled serum antigens showed no serological differences from the sera of individuals. No differences were demonstrated in sera due the sex of the organisms. For cold stored antigens color changes in the vials did not indicate alteration of the reactivity of the proteins. The remaining soluble portions of protein in vials showing apparently spontaneous precipitation of the protein gave the same reactivity as freshly prepared antigens. Bacterial contamination, if not permitted to endure too long, and if kept under refrigeration, does not alter the proteins significantly. The reconstitution of lyophilized hemocyanin sera for serological testing was not successful.

The studies in systematic serology have been extended to include new families of decapod Crustacea. For the species of Brachyura tested it appears that the families Portunidae, Xanthidae, and Cancridae are more closely related to each other than all of them are to the Ocypodidae, Calappidae and Majidae.

Further studies into the conditions which may modify the serological reactivity of proteins are needed. Continuing investigations, examining both the validity of the methods used in measuring antigen-antibody reactions and the methods used in the preparation of these primary serological reagents, are necessary components of truly critical studies in serological systematics.

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