title: Effects of anti-Ureaplasma urease antibody on homologous and heterologous urease activities.
abstract: Among organisms in the class Mollicutes only Ureaplasma species possess urease. Antiserum to urease of U. urealyticum strain T960 (CX8) was used to examine the cross-reactivity of urease from other Ureaplasma species, as well as urease of jack bean and several urease-possessing walled bacteria. Immunological cross reactivity was used to establish phylogenetic relationships between various antigens. The ability of monospecific anti-urease antibody to inhibit urease activity was examined. The antiserum inhibited urease activity of the homologous strain the least of any Ureaplasma tested. It is postulated that urease possesses a minimum of two sets of epitopes. Binding of antibody to one epitope causes inhibition of enzyme activity; this epitope is common to urease of all Ureaplasma species. Binding of antibody to the other epitope prevents binding to the inhibition epitope; this epitope is specific to U. urealyticum strain T960 (CX8). No inhibition was observed with urease from jack bean or several walled bacteria.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D014510:Urease / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera; D014510:Urease