title: Surface-exposed epitopes on the major outer-membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis defined with peptide antisera.
abstract: The surface exposure of computer-predicted, linear B-cell epitopes on the major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar B was assessed using antibodies raised against synthetic peptides in conjunction with immunogold transmission electron microscopy. Several of the chosen peptides elicited antibodies which reacted with both denatured and native MOMP. The majority of the exposed epitopes were found within the variable segments of MOMP. For each of the epitopes identified, the extent of their surface accessibility varied both among individual organisms and different developmental forms. Evidence for two distinct subspecies-specific epitopes within VS4 is presented.
authors: Department of Microbiology, University of Southampton Medical School, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Conlan
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ferris
authors: I N
authors: IN
authors: Clarke
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Ward
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010449:Peptide Mapping
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes