title: Binding of IgA by Mycoplasma penetrans.
abstract: The current study shows that Mycoplasma penetrans strain GTU binds human serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and secretory IgA but not IgG. Binding of IgA was associated almost exclusively with the lipoprotein fraction obtained by Triton X-114 fractionation of isolated M. penetrans membranes. Western immunoblot analysis of isolated membranes of M. penetrans strain GTU and of the Triton X-114 fraction showed that the major IgA-binding component was a lipoprotein with a molecular mass of 38 kDa, one of the major lipoproteins of this organism. The authors suggest that the high IgA-binding capacity of M. penetrans strain GTU may serve as a defense mechanism, conferring on this microorganism the ability to evade clearance mediated by specific IgA antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Membrane and Ultrastructure Research, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
authors.forename: Awni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nir-Paz
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rottem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018661:Mycoplasma penetrans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D017830:Octoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D008074:Lipoproteins; C440649:P38 antigen, Mycoplasma; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017830:Octoxynol; C010615:Nonidet P-40