title: Sequence variability of FrpB, a major iron-regulated outer-membrane protein in the pathogenic neisseriae.
abstract: The FrpB protein from pathogenic neisseriae is a 77 kDa iron-regulated outer-membrane protein that belongs to the family of TonB-dependent receptors and may have potential as a vaccine component. Comparison between the frpB gene from three different meningococcal strains and a published gonococcal one revealed that the region from residues 350 to 390 displays pronounced sequence variability. In a model for the topology of FrpB in the outer membrane, this region corresponds to loop 7, the longest of the predicted 13 surface-exposed loops. Binding of four out of a total of eight bactericidal monoclonal antibodies to synthetic peptides corresponding to loop 7 showed that their epitopes are located here. The frpB genes from five additional meningococcal strains were cloned and sequenced in this region. Pairwise comparisons showed different degrees of similarity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Vaccine Development and Immune Mechanisms, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. peterl@rivm.nl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Ley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Biezen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutmuller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoogerhout
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Poolman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009343:Neisseria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C093120:FrpB protein, bacteria