Evidence that mycoplasmas, gram-negative bacteria, and certain gram-positive bacteria share a similar protein antigen.
It was demonstrated that mycoplasmas, gram-negative bacteria, and certain gram-positive bacteria share a similar protein antigen with a molecular weight ranging from 42,000 to 48,000. Western blotting (immunoblotting) with an antibody specific to a 43-kDa membrane protein of Mycoplasma fermentans showed the existence of this protein antigen in all Mycoplasma spp. tested (14 species), Acholeplasma laidlawii (1 strain), and gram-negative bacteria (8 species) but only in Staphylococcus aureus of four gram-positive species tested. Neither Ureaplasma urealyticum nor mammalian cell cultures showed any cross-reactions with this antibody. These proteins were found in both cytoplasmic and membrane fractions of mycoplasma cells but were not exposed on the surface of mycoplasmal or bacterial cells.
Sasaki
T
T
Department of General Biologics Control, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial