The immunodominant 90-kilodalton protein is localized on the terminal tip structure of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Infect Immun. 1993 Apr;61(4):1523-30. doi: 10.1128/iai.61.4.1523-1530.1993.

Abstract

Immunoblot analysis of convalescent-phase sera of experimentally infected chimpanzees or monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to the 90- and 40-kDa proteins of Mycoplasma pneumoniae indicated that both proteins were present in cytadsorbing, pathogenic strains PI-1428, M129, and FH but absent in noncytadsorbing, nonpathogenic strain M129-B176. Adsorption of convalescent-phase chimpanzee sera with virulent strain PI-1428 removed reactivity, whereas adsorption with avirulent strain M129-B176 did not remove reactivity to these two proteins. By using proteolysis and specific MAbs, we demonstrated that the 90- and 40-kDa proteins were surface exposed. Immunoelectron microscopy employing specific MAbs showed that the 90-kDa protein is localized on the terminal tip attachment apparatus. However, the MAb specific for the 40-kDa protein failed to indicate a similar localization. Nevertheless, these data, taken together, indicate that the immunodominant 90- and 40-kDa proteins are surface exposed, are localized on the terminal tip apparatus, and might be involved in the attachment mechanism.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Antigens, Surface / chemistry
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology
  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae / immunology*
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae / ultrastructure
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Bacterial Proteins