title: Opsonization of Treponema pallidum is mediated by immunoglobulin G antibodies induced only by pathogenic treponemes.
abstract: Rabbit antisera to Leptospira interrogans, Borrelia hermsii, and Treponema phagedenis biotype Reiter, reactive to shared spirochetal antigens, failed to enhance phagocytosis of Treponema pallidum by macrophages, while immunoglobulin G to Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue and Treponema paraluiscuniculi promoted phagocytosis. Opsonic antibodies are directed to pathogen-restricted, not shared spirochetal, antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Baker-Zander
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lukehart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011817:Rabbits; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007106:Immune Sera; D007074:Immunoglobulin G