title: Variable sequences in a mosaic-like domain of meningococcal tbp2 encode immunoreactive epitopes.
abstract: Transferrin-binding proteins from Neisseria meningitidis vary among different isolates. We have identified and studied a hypervariable region adjacent to the carboxyl-end of the transferrin-binding domain of the Tbp2 molecule. The tbp2 genes from six strains of N. meningitidis were cloned and sequenced in this particular region. Sequence analysis of these regions along with five other sequences available from pathogenic Neisseria showed a common organisation of seven highly variable nucleotide stretches interspersed with six conserved nucleotide stretches. The variable regions correlated with the location of immunoreactive epitopes in polyclonal antisera raised to transferrin-binding proteins identified by peptide pin technology. Sequence analysis suggested a mosaic-like organisation of the tbp2 genes. Taken together, these data suggest that the antigenic variation in this part of the protein may result from a strong host immune pressure.
authors.affiliation: Pasteur Merieux Sérums and Vaccins, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rokbi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maitre-Wilmotte
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mazarin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fourrichon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lissolo
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Quentin-Millet
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins