title: Ribonucleic acid antigen from the Reiter treponeme used in an ELISA for antibodies in syphilis.
abstract: Purified RNA from Treponema phagedenis biotype Reiter was used as antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG antibodies in syphilis. The RNA ELISA was compared with the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS), the Treponema pallidum immobilization test (TPI), and with two ELISAs using purified flagellum from the Reiter treponeme as antigen (flagellum ELISA), and sonified Reiter treponeme culture as antigen (sonicate ELISA). A total of 729 sera from patients with and without syphilis were studied. The RNA ELISA had a lower sensitivity (P less than 0.01) in primary syphilis than the flagellum ELISA, the sonicate ELISA, and the FTA-ABS. In treated syphilis the RNA ELISA was also less sensitive than the TPI (P less than 0.01).
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005407:Flagella / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D012313:RNA / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D014208:Treponema / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D012313:RNA