Generation and Characterization of Chicken Egg Yolk Antibodies Against Propionibacterium Acnes for the Prevention of Acne Vulgaris

INTRODUCTION: Antigen-specific antibody has been widely used for immunological analysis in the field of diagnosis as well as in pure scientific research, where the IgY antibodies can be raised against P acnes antigen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To produce IgY against Propionibacterium acnes, laying hens were immunized with P acnes (MTCC No: 1951) and subsequent booster injections were given. The antibodies produced were purified from the egg yolk of immunized chicken using the polyethylene glycol and ammonium sulfate precipitation method and, further, by Diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose ion-exchange column chromatography. The protein fraction of IgY was isolated from the egg yolk. The separation was rapid, and the success of each step was viewed on Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The reactivity of anti–P acnes was evaluated by the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and the dot-immunoassay. RESULTS: With ELISA, the highest titter of 1:10000 was observed on the 150(th) day after vaccination. The results of dot-immunoassay suggested that anti–P acnes IgY developed a brown color as positive reaction, which showed the antigen-antibody binding even after a maximum dilution of 1/500. These results suggest that anti-acne IgY was produced and had strong specific antibody reactivity. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that anti-acne IgY is worth utilizing as a preventive agent for acne vulgaris.