title: Antigenic and genetic characterization of a putative hybrid transferrin-binding protein B from Neisseria meningitidis.
abstract: The transferrin-binding protein Bs (TbpBs) from the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis have been divided into two families according to genetic and antigenic features. TbpB from meningococcal strain B385 showed a molecular mass similar to that exhibited by TbpBs belonging to the high molecular mass family of TbpBs. TbpB was recognized by immunoassay using a specific serum directed against the TbpB of the reference strain for this family (strain M982). It was also recognized by a serum elicited against the TbpB of the reference strain for the low molecular mass family (strain B16B6). The tbpB gene from strain B385 was cloned and sequenced. The highest degree of sequence homology was found to be with the TbpBs belonging to the high molecular mass family, although a region of 14 amino acids that is only present in the TbpB from strain B16B6 was also found. This report illustrates a TbpB that shows hybrid antigenic and genetic behaviour.
authors.affiliation: División de Vacunas, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, Cubanacán, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menéndez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D033882:Transferrin-Binding Protein B; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D033882:Transferrin-Binding Protein B; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins