Discovery and analysis of Bartonella henselae antigens for use in clinical serologic assays.
The antibody response to Bartonella henselae has been studied in a number of mammals; however, the human response needs to be further studied. After natural infection, humans have antibody reactivity to a large number of B. henselae proteins. We used a proteomic approach to identify antigenic proteins of B. henselae to determine their capacity to elicit a human antibody response. Comparing patient sera by Western blot analysis demonstrated significant amounts of reactivity to B. henselae. The immunofluorescence assay (IFA)-positive sera identified several protein spots of interest. However, a consistent reactivity to a single spot by all sera was not observed. Three of these spots demonstrated reactivity in 71%, 64%, and 64% of positive sera tested with negligible reactivity to the negative sera. These proteins were identified as GroES, BepA, and GroEL. Most IFA-positive sera demonstrated reactivity to GroES, GroEL, and BepA. The usefulness of these proteins for a clinical serologic assay is discussed.
McCool
Tera L
TL
Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Hamilton, NJ 08690-3303, USA.
Hoey
John G
JG
Montileone
Francesca
F
Goldenberg
Hannah B
HB
Mordechai
Eli
E
Adelson
Martin E
ME
D016917:Angiomatosis, Bacillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D040901:Proteomics; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins