High frequency of antibodies to Mycoplasma penetrans in HIV-infected patients.
Mycoplasma penetrans, a novel mycoplasma isolated from HIV-1-infected patients with AIDS, has pathogenic properties associated with in-vivo virulence. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting detected a more than 100 times higher frequency of antibodies to the mycoplasma in serum from HIV-1-infected patients with AIDS (40%) than from HIV-negative controls (0.3%). Serum from 20% of HIV-1-infected, symptom-free individuals also had M penetrans specific antibodies. The antibodies' major immunoreactivity was directed against P35 and P38, the two main lipid-associated membrane protein antigens of the organism. Patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics had a low frequency of antibody (0.9%). None of 178 HIV-negative patients with different non-AIDS diseases, many associated with immune dysfunction and/or low white cell counts, tested positive for the antibodies. M penetrans, apparently not a commensal and not a simple opportunist, is uniquely associated with HIV-1 infection and AIDS.
Department of Infectious and Parasitic Disease Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC 20306-6000.
R Y
RY
Wang
J W
JW
Shih
T
T
Grandinetti
P F
PF
Pierce
M M
MM
Hayes
D J
DJ
Wear
H J
HJ
Alter
S C
SC
Lo
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial