title: Mapping of a surface-exposed B-cell epitope to the variable sequent 3 of the major outer-membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis.
abstract: A B-cell epitope, AEFPLDIT, was located to the variable sequent 3 of the major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) using the monoclonal antibody L3-1, raised to the Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L3 MOMP. By Western blot and inclusion immunofluorescence assay the monoclonal antibody recognized all the C complex and C-related complex serovars of C. trachomatis, except serovar C. Dot-blot and ELISA data using native elementary bodies indicated that the epitope was surface exposed. The monoclonal antibody, at concentrations of 10 and 100 micrograms per 10(7) chlamydial inclusion-forming units, was able to neutralize the infectivity of chlamydia in an in vivo assay but did not neutralize chlamydia in vitro or in a mouse toxicity assay. A peptide corresponding to the variable sequent 3 has previously been shown to also elicit a T-cell response; thus, careful consideration should be given to inclusion of this region of the major outer-membrane protein in a subunit vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine 92717-4800.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de la Maza
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D007118:Immunoassay; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D009842:Oligopeptides