This brief review is dedicated to the legacy of Prof. Jaroslav Šterzl and his colleagues, who laid the foundation for gnotobiology in the former Czechoslovakia 55 years. Prof. Sterzl became one of the founders of modern Czechoslovak immunology, which was characterized by work on a wide range of problems needing to be solved. While examining the mechanisms of innate immunity, he focused his studies on the induction of antibody production by immunocompetent cells involved in adaptive immune transmission while using the model of pig fetuses and germ-free piglets and characterizing immunoglobulins in the sera of these piglets. Although not fully appreciated to this day, his experimental proof of the hypothesis focused on the common precursor of cell-forming antibodies of different isotypes was later confirmed in experiments at the gene level. Prof. Sterzl's work represented a true milestone in the development of not solely Czechoslovak but also European and global immunology. He collaborated closely with the World Health Organization for many years, serving there as leader of the Reference Laboratory for Factors of Innate Immunity.

• Keywords
• Germ-free model, Gnotobiology, Host-pathogen interaction, Innate immunity, Microbiota,
• MeSH
• Germ-Free Life * MeSH
• Host-Pathogen Interactions * MeSH
• Disease Models, Animal MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

A mixture of glycoproteins and glycolipids was solubilized from sheep erythrocytes membranes under the effect of high ionic strength (2 M NaCl, 0.5 M Tris). Several antigenic fractions could be purified from the mixture using gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and block electrophoresis on Pevikon C870; two fractions were found to raise antibodies in a primary reaction and these antibodies effectively sensitized erythrocytes to lysis by complement. The majority of other fractions elicited a weaker primary reaction which was detectable by both agglutination and haemolysis. The fraction, migrating fastest towards the cathode, elicited after immunization a formation of antibodies that could be detected almost exclusively by haemagglutination. The fraction, which elicited in the primary reaction a high titre of haemolytic antibodies, is composed of 72% proteins, 11% lipids and 15% saccharides.

• MeSH
• Antigens analysis   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Electrophoresis MeSH
• Erythrocytes immunology   MeSH
• Chromatography, Gel MeSH
• Hemagglutination Tests MeSH
• Hemolysis MeSH
• Immunoelectrophoresis MeSH
• Blood Proteins analysis   MeSH
• Lipids analysis   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Sheep immunology   MeSH
• Antibodies analysis   MeSH
• Carbohydrates analysis   MeSH
• Antibody Formation MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antigens MeSH
• Blood Proteins MeSH
• Lipids MeSH
• Antibodies MeSH
• Carbohydrates MeSH

• MeSH
• Immune Sera * administration & dosage   MeSH
• Erythrocytes immunology   MeSH
• Hemagglutination Tests MeSH
• Hemolysis MeSH
• Immunization * MeSH
• Immunoglobulin G biosynthesis   MeSH
• Immunoglobulin M biosynthesis   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Sheep MeSH
• Antibody Formation * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Immune Sera * MeSH
• Immunoglobulin G MeSH
• Immunoglobulin M MeSH

• MeSH
• Antigens MeSH
• Bacteriophages immunology   MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Methods MeSH
• Poliovirus immunology   MeSH
• Antigen-Antibody Reactions MeSH
• In Vitro Techniques MeSH
• Antibody Formation * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antigens MeSH

• MeSH
• Immunization * MeSH
• Rabbits MeSH
• Mercaptopurine pharmacology   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Radiation Effects * MeSH
• Antibody Formation drug effects   radiation effects   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rabbits MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Mercaptopurine MeSH