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Title: SEROTYPE 2-SPECIFIC ANTIGENS FROM RUMINANT STRAINS OF CHLAMYDIA PECORUM DETECTED BY MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

Author
item SALINAS, J - UNIV OF MURCIA, SPAIN
item SOURIAU, A - INRA, NOUZILLY, FRANCE
item DE SA, C - INRA, NOUZILLY, FRANCE
item ANDERSEN, ARTHUR
item RODOLAKIS, A - INRA, NOUZILLY, FRANCE

Submitted to: Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The goal of the research was to study the antigenic relationship among 18 serotype 2 strains of Chlamydia pecorum from sheep, goats, and cattle. The isolates were from cases of enteritis, arthritis, and respiratory diseases. The isolates were also compared with selected C. psittaci and C. trachomatis strains. The antigenic relationships were studied using 25 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced to 7 different serotype 2 strains The MAbs divided the 18 serotype 2 strains into 16 distinct groups, indicating a high heterogeneity among the C. pecorum strains. Only the 3 goat strains exhibited the same profile. No cross-reactions were seen with the C. psittaci and C. trachomatis strains. The results prove that the C. pecorum strains are antigenically very diverse and are antigenically distinct from other chlamydial strains.

Technical Abstract: A panel of 25 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) selected from 7 different cellular fusions was used to study the antigenic relationships among a group of 18 ruminant serotype 2 strains of Chlamydia pecorum through an indirect microimmunofluorescence test. The antigenic relationships existing among the strains of serotype 1 of C. psittaci and serotype 2 of of C. pecorum were also studied, as well as among the C. pecorum strains and an avian strain and a feline strain. Only the genus-specific MAb, used as a positive control, showed reaction with all the tested strains. Six MAbs reacted with all the C. pecorum serotype 2 strains, showing at least two different common epitopes since only one of them recognized an 80 kDa protein in Western blot. With these 18 serotype 2 strains, 16 different patterns were established, emphasizing the high heterogeneity of this group. Only the three caprine strains exhibited the same profile. None of the MAbs reacted with the serotype 1 strains, nor with the feline isolate, but two of them recognized the avian strain. We discussed the possibility that the serotype 2-specific antigens represent C. pecorum species-specific antigens that could be used for diagnosis.