How divergent sequences is foreign enough for antibody production? - (Mar/06/2012 )

I am designing a custom peptide antibody from a fairly conserved protein in rabbits and just wondered howdivergent from the rabbit homolog should my sequence be? All protocols just say it has to be foreign but what is the approximate cutoff? is 65% identity too similar, how about 50%?

Many mouse monoclonal antibodies recognize mouse proteins. I have made many rabbit antibodies and I never though about self/non-self in this way. With a good immunization schedule and a KLH-coupled peptide you should be just fine.