title: Antigenic relationship between Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium.
abstract: Four prototype strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis contained the type-specific glycopeptidolipid antigen of serovar 8 of the M avium complex. This glycolipid was distinguished by a 4,6-(1'-carboxyethylidene)-3-O-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl terminal unit. Of 59 low-passage, field isolates of M paratuberculosis, 2 contained this antigen, and these 2 isolates were indistinguishable from M avium serovar 8. However, most M paratuberculosis isolates had no characteristic surface glycopeptidolipid. Seemingly, M paratuberculosis, long regarded as a single species and the causative agent of bovine paratuberculosis, is not a homogeneous taxon. Most isolates obtained from infected ruminants may be antigenically defective, variants of M avium and, thereby, more successful pathogens.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
authors: R T
authors: RT
authors: Camphausen
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Jones
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D006017:Glycolipids