<p>This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.</p> <p>In this paper we report on the generation of Abs possessing specificities
            similar to those of Abs used in immunization, and on the generation of Id and
            anti-Id specificities in the sera of mice immunized with commensal bacterial antigens.</p> <p>The human monoclonal antibody IgM DJ (VH3/VL2) expresses natural
            antibody properties, natural idiotope (Y7), and specificity towards Lactic acid
            bacteria (LAB). When used in immunization it generates LAB-specific antibodies.
            Immunization with LAB, as detected in the presence of biotin-labelled mouse
            monoclonal anti-idiotopic antibodies Y7 and IgM DJ generates Abs1 and Abs2,
             respectively. These findings may imply that the recognition of bacterial motifs
             accords with the rules of idiotypic network theory. This theory, first proposed by
             Jerne in 1974 and often overlooked since, has been subject to change during the
             course of immunological research. Recent experiments concerning the recognition
             of bacterial motifs and natural memory in the immune system have inspired us in
            our attempt at explaining the possible role of natural Id in immune memory.</p>
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Clin Dev Immunol. 2004 Sep-Dec; 11(3-4):281-285