ENERGY OF ANTIBODY-ANTIGEN REACTIONS 149 



sibly some sort of reversible denaturation which results in greater 

 disorder and consequent absorption of heat. These effects might mask 

 the evohition of heat and the decrease in entropy which are caused by 

 the local reaction of the specific combining group with the B receptor 

 on the cell. 



According to Wurmser and Filitti-Wurmser, these findings in- 

 dicate that the isoagglutinins in man are produced not by a process 

 of immunization, as antibodies are in general, but directly under 

 control of the blood group genes. This view, if correct, would sharply 

 distinguish these "natural agglutinins" from those produced by im- 

 munizing animals, or presumably even from those produced by in- 

 jection of A and B blood group substances into human volunteers. 



Kabat (1956) does not believe such a distinction exists, and does 

 not believe there are such substances as "natural agglutinins." He 

 has also criticized the calculations of Wurmser and Filitti-Wurmser 

 in detail, but to me none of his criticisms seem conclusive ; indeed, 

 some seem quite beside the point. (Cf. Filitti-Wurmser, Jacquot- 

 Armand, and Wurmser, 1960.) A decision as to the validity of the 

 Wurmser and Filitti-Wurmser conclusions will have to await con- 

 firmation or disproof of their work in another laboratory. 



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