title: Antigens of Treponema pallidum recognized by IgG and IgM antibodies during syphilis in humans.
abstract: IgG and IgM antibody specificities for antigens of Treponema pallidum Nichols strain were determined by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the western blot technique in sera from patients with untreated syphilis, normal persons, persons with biologic false-positive tests for syphilis, and sexual contacts of persons with infectious syphilis. IgG reactivities of sera from individuals with primary syphilis varied considerably but consistently exhibited strong reactivity to a 48-kilodalton band. Sera from patients with secondary and early latent syphilis uniformly demonstrated reactivity to 22 separate polypeptide antigens; decreased reactivity was seen in late latent syphilis. Normal and biologic false-positive sera showed weak IgG reactivity against none to 12 polypeptides. Sera from asymptomatic contacts of persons with infectious syphilis showed reactivity to a varying number of treponemal antigens, including some reactions not seen with normal sera. IgM reactivity was most prominent in secondary syphilis but was demonstrable at all stages of disease.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D013592:Syphilis, Latent / Q000276:immunology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M