title: Identification of the protective 44-kilodalton recombinant antigen of Ehrlichia risticii.
abstract: Protective studies were conducted with mice by using recombinantly produced antigens, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-fractionated antigens, and a monoclonal antibody specific to the 28-kDa antigen of Ehrlichia risticii. Analysis of E. risticii-infected cell culture used as the challenge inoculum indicated an inverse relationship between the progression of cell culture infection and the infective capability of E. risticii for mice. A recombinant 44-kDa antigen was found to protect mice considerably against challenge infection, while the monoclonal antibody and fractionated antigens were not protective. A potentiation of protection was observed when the recombinant 44-kDa antigen was combined with the recombinant 70-kDa antigen and used for mouse immunization.
authors.affiliation: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park 20742-3711.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shankarappa
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mattingly-Napier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011994:Recombinant Proteins