The leptospiral major outer membrane protein LipL32 is a lipoprotein expressed during mammalian infection

We report the cloning of the gene encoding the 32-kDa lipoprotein, designated LipL32, the most prominent protein in the leptospiral protein profile. We obtained the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a staphylococcal V8 proteolytic-digest fragment to design an oligonucleotide probe. A Lambda-Zap II library containing EcoRI fragments of Leptospira kirschneri DNA was screened, and a 5.0-kb DNA fragment which contained the entire structural lipL32 gene was identified. Several lines of evidence indicate that LipL32 is lipid modified in a manner similar to that of other procaryotic lipoproteins. The deduced amino acid sequence of LipL32 would encode a 272-amino-acid polypeptide with a 19-amino-acid signal peptide, followed by a lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site. LipL32 is intrinsically labeled during incubation of L. kirschneri in media containing [(3)H]palmitate. The linkage of palmitate and the amino-terminal cysteine of LipL32 is acid labile. LipL32 is completely solubilized by Triton X-114 extraction of L. kirschneri; phase separation results in partitioning of LipL32 exclusively into the hydrophobic, detergent phase, indicating that it is a component of the leptospiral outer membrane. CaCl(2) (20 mM) must be present during phase separation for recovery of LipL32. LipL32 is expressed not only during cultivation but also during mammalian infection. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated intense LipL32 reactivity with L. kirschneri infecting proximal tubules of hamster kidneys. LipL32 is also a prominent immunogen during human leptospirosis. The sequence and expression of LipL32 is highly conserved among pathogenic Leptospira species. These findings indicate that LipL32 may be important in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prevention of leptospirosis.     

Characterization of Leptospiral Outer Membrane Lipoprotein LipL36: Downregulation Associated with Late-Log-Phase Growth and Mammalian Infection

We report the cloning of the gene encoding a 36-kDa leptospiral outer membrane lipoprotein, designated LipL36. We obtained the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a staphylococcal V8 proteolytic-digest fragment in order to design an oligonucleotide probe. A Lambda-Zap II library containing EcoRI fragments of Leptospira kirschneri DNA was screened, and a 2.3-kb DNA fragment which contained the entire structural lipL36 gene was identified. Several lines of evidence indicate that LipL36 is lipid modified in a manner similar to that of LipL41, a leptospiral outer membrane lipoprotein we described in a previous study (E. S. Shang, T. A. Summers, and D. A. Haake, Infect. Immun. 64:2322–2330, 1996). The deduced amino acid sequence of LipL36 would constitute a 364-amino-acid polypeptide with a 20-amino-acid signal peptide, followed by an L-X-Y-C lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site. LipL36 is solubilized by Triton X-114 extraction of L. kirschneri; phase separation results in partitioning of LipL36 exclusively into the hydrophobic, detergent phase. LipL36 is intrinsically labeled during incubation of L. kirschneri in media containing [³H]palmitate. Processing of LipL36 is inhibited by globomycin, a selective inhibitor of lipoprotein signal peptidase. After processing, LipL36 is exported to the outer membrane along with LipL41 and lipopolysaccharide. Unlike LipL41, there appears to be differential expression of LipL36. In early-log-phase cultures, LipL36 is one of the most abundant L. kirschneri proteins. However, LipL36 levels drop considerably beginning in mid-log phase. LipL36 expression in vivo was evaluated by examining the humoral immune response to leptospiral antigens in the hamster model of leptospirosis. Hamsters surviving challenge with culture-adapted virulent L. kirschneri generate a strong antibody response to LipL36. In contrast, sera from hamsters surviving challenge with host-adapted L. kirschneri do not recognize LipL36. These findings suggest that LipL36 expression is downregulated during mammalian infection, providing a marker for studying the mechanisms by which pathogenic Leptospira species adapt to the host environment.     

Leptospiral outer membrane proteins OmpL1 and LipL41 exhibit synergistic immunoprotection

New vaccine strategies are needed for prevention of leptospirosis, a widespread human and veterinary disease caused by invasive spirochetes belonging to the genus Leptospira. We have examined the immunoprotective capacity of the leptospiral porin OmpL1 and the leptospiral outer membrane lipoprotein LipL41 in the Golden Syrian hamster model of leptospirosis. Specialized expression plasmids were developed to facilitate expression of leptospiral proteins in Escherichia coli as the membrane-associated proteins OmpL1-M and LipL41-M. Although OmpL1-M expression is highly toxic in E. coli, this was accomplished by using plasmid pMMB66-OmpL1, which has undetectable background expression without induction. LipL41-M expression and processing were enhanced by altering its lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site to mimic that of the murein lipoprotein. Active immunization of hamsters with E. coli membrane fractions containing a combination of OmpL1-M and LipL41-M was found to provide significant protection against homologous challenge with Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa. At 28 days after intraperitoneal inoculation, survival in animals vaccinated with both proteins was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53 to 89%), compared with only 25% (95% CI, 8 to 42%) in the control group (P < 0.001). On the basis of serological, histological, and microbiological assays, no evidence of infection was found in the vaccinated survivors. The protective effects of immunization with OmpL1-M and LipL41-M were synergistic, since significant levels of protection were not observed in animals immunized with either OmpL1-M or LipL41-M alone. In contrast to immunization with the membrane-associated forms of leptospiral proteins, hamsters immunized with His(6)-OmpL1 and His(6)-LipL41 fusion proteins, either alone or in combination, were not protected. These data indicate that the manner in which OmpL1 and LipL41 associates with membranes is an important determinant of immunoprotection.     

LipL21 is a novel surface-exposed lipoprotein of pathogenic Leptospira species

Leptospira is the etiologic agent of leptospirosis, a bacterial zoonosis distributed worldwide. Leptospiral lipopolysaccharide is a protective immunogen, but the extensive serological diversity of leptospires has inspired a search for conserved outer membrane proteins (OMPs) that may stimulate heterologous immunity. Previously, a global analysis of leptospiral OMPs (P. A. Cullen, S. J. Cordwell, D. M. Bulach, D. A. Haake, and B. Adler, Infect. Immun. 70:2311-2318, 2002) identified pL21, a novel 21-kDa protein that is the second most abundant constituent of the Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai outer membrane proteome. In this study, we identified the gene encoding pL21 and found it to encode a putative lipoprotein; accordingly, the protein was renamed LipL21. Southern hybridization analysis revealed the presence of lipL21 in all of the pathogenic species but in none of the saprophytic species examined. Alignment of the LipL21 sequence from six strains of Leptospira revealed 96 to 100% identity. When specific polyclonal antisera to recombinant LipL21 were used, LipL21 was isolated together with other known leptospiral OMPs by both Triton X-114 extraction and sucrose density gradient membrane fractionation. All nine strains of pathogenic leptospires investigated by Western blotting, whether culture attenuated or virulent, were found to express LipL21. In contrast, the expression of LipL21 or an antigenically related protein could not be detected in nonpathogenic L. biflexa. Infected hamster sera and two of eight human leptospirosis sera tested were found to react with recombinant LipL21. Native LipL21 was found to incorporate tritiated palmitic acid, consistent with the prediction of a lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site. Biotinylation of the leptospiral surface resulted in selective labeling of LipL21 and the previously known OMPs LipL32 and LipL41. These findings show that LipL21 is a surface-exposed, abundant outer membrane lipoprotein that is expressed during infection and conserved among pathogenic Leptospira species.     

Novel 45-Kilodalton Leptospiral Protein That Is Processed to a 31-Kilodalton Growth-Phase-Regulated Peripheral Membrane Protein

Leptospiral protein antigens are of interest as potential virulence factors and as candidate serodiagnostic and immunoprotective reagents. We identified leptospiral protein antigens by screening a genomic expression library with serum from a rabbit hyperimmunized with formalin-killed, virulent Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa. Genes expressing known outer membrane lipoproteins LipL32 and LipL41, the heat shock protein GroEL, and the alpha, beta, and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase were isolated from the library. In addition, a new leptospiral gene that in Escherichia coli expressed a 45-kDa antigen with an amino-terminal signal peptide followed by the spirochetal lipobox Val(-4)-Phe(-3)-Asn(-2)-Ala(-1) (downward arrow)Cys(+1) was isolated. We designated this putative lipoprotein LipL45. Immunoblot analysis of a panel of Leptospira strains probed with LipL45 antiserum demonstrated that many low-passage strains expressed LipL45. In contrast, LipL45 was not detected in high-passage, culture-attenuated strains, suggesting that LipL45 is a virulence-associated protein. In addition, all leptospiral strains tested, irrespective of culture passage, expressed a 31-kDa antigen that was recognized by LipL45 antiserum. Southern blot and peptide mapping studies indicated that this 31-kDa antigen was derived from the carboxy terminus of LipL45; therefore, it was designated P31(LipL45). Membrane fractionation studies demonstrated that P31(LipL45) is a peripheral membrane protein. Finally, we found that P31(LipL45) levels increased as Leptospira entered the stationary phase, indicating that P31(LipL45) levels were regulated. Hamsters infected with L. kirschneri formed an antibody response to LipL45, indicating that LipL45 was expressed during infection. Furthermore, the immunohistochemistry of kidneys from infected hamsters indicated that LipL45 was expressed by L. kirschneri that colonized the renal tubule. These observations suggest that expression of LipL45 responds to environmental cues, including those encountered during infection of a mammalian host.     

Expression and Distribution of Leptospiral Outer Membrane Components during Renal Infection of Hamsters

The outer membrane of pathogenic Leptospira species grown in culture media contains lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a porin (OmpL1), and several lipoproteins, including LipL36 and LipL41. The purpose of this study was to characterize the expression and distribution of these outer membrane antigens during renal infection. Hamsters were challenged with host-derived Leptospira kirschneri to generate sera which contained antibodies to antigens expressed in vivo. Immunoblotting performed with sera from animals challenged with these host-derived organisms demonstrated reactivity with OmpL1, LipL41, and several other proteins but not with LipL36. Although LipL36 is a prominent outer membrane antigen of cultivated L. kirschneri, its expression also could not be detected in infected hamster kidney tissue by immunohistochemistry, indicating that expression of this protein is down-regulated in vivo. In contrast, LPS, OmpL1, and LipL41 were demonstrated on organisms colonizing the lumen of proximal convoluted renal tubules at both 10 and 28 days postinfection. Tubular epithelial cells around the luminal colonies had fine granular cytoplasmic LPS. When the cellular inflammatory response was present in the renal interstitium at 28 days postinfection, LPS and OmpL1 were also detectable within interstitial phagocytes. These data establish that outer membrane components expressed during infection have roles in the induction and persistence of leptospiral interstitial nephritis.     

赖型钩端螺旋体外膜脂蛋白LipL41基因真核表达质粒的构建及表达

目的：构建赖型钩端螺旋体LipL41基因的真核重组表达质粒、并对其表达进行检测。方法： 以赖型钩端螺旋体017株基因组DNA为模板PCR扩增目的基因，克隆至原核表达质粒pGEX-4T-1上。测序分析后酶切，并连接至真核表达质粒pcDNA3上，构建真核重组表达质粒LipL41-pCDNA3。利用脂质体介导转染COS7细胞，提取细胞总RNA，RT-PCR检测其表达。结果： PCR扩增出1 011 bp大小的目的片段，序列分析显示它与Leptospira kirschneri的LipL41基因成熟肽序列同源性高达98%。酶切鉴定证实真核重组表达质粒LipL41-pCDNA3构建成功，RT-PCR检测显示，LipL41-pCDNA3转染组在大约1kb处出现特异的扩增带，而空质粒组无此条带。结论：LipL41的真核重组表达质粒构建成功，并可在哺乳动物细胞中表达。     

Global analysis of outer membrane proteins from Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai

Recombinant leptospiral outer membrane proteins (OMPs) can elicit immunity to leptospirosis in a hamster infection model. Previously characterized OMPs appear highly conserved, and thus their potential to stimulate heterologous immunity is of critical importance. In this study we undertook a global analysis of leptospiral OMPs, which were obtained by Triton X-114 extraction and phase partitioning. Outer membrane fractions were isolated from Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai grown at 20, 30, and 37 degrees C with or without 10% fetal calf serum and, finally, in iron-depleted medium. The OMPs were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Gel patterns from each of the five conditions were compared via image analysis, and 37 gel-purified proteins were tryptically digested and characterized by mass spectrometry (MS). Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight MS was used to rapidly identify leptospiral OMPs present in sequence databases. Proteins identified by this approach included the outer membrane lipoproteins LipL32, LipL36, LipL41, and LipL48. No known proteins from any cellular location other than the outer membrane were identified. Tandem electrospray MS was used to obtain peptide sequence information from eight novel proteins designated pL18, pL21, pL22, pL24, pL45, pL47/49, pL50, and pL55. The expression of LipL36 and pL50 was not apparent at temperatures above 30 degrees C or under iron-depleted conditions. The expression of pL24 was also downregulated after iron depletion. The leptospiral major OMP LipL32 was observed to undergo substantial cleavage under all conditions except iron depletion. Additionally, significant downregulation of these mass forms was observed under iron limitation at 30 degrees C, but not at 30 degrees C alone, suggesting that LipL32 processing is dependent on iron-regulated extracellular proteases. However, separate cleavage products responded differently to changes in growth temperature and medium constituents, indicating that more than one process may be involved in LipL32 processing. Furthermore, under iron-depleted conditions there was no concomitant increase in the levels of the intact form of LipL32. The temperature- and iron-regulated expression of LipL36 and the iron-dependent cleavage of LipL32 were confirmed by immunoblotting with specific antisera. Global analysis of the cellular location and expression of leptospiral proteins will be useful in the annotation of genomic sequence data and in providing insight into the biology of Leptospira.     

Changes in the surface of Leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa during in vitro cultivation.

Surface components of virulent and attenuated Leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa were compared by using Triton X-114 solubilization and phase partitioning, immunoprecipitation of intact organisms, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Removal of the leptospiral outer membrane by using 0.1% Triton X-114 was demonstrated by whole-mount electron microscopy and by essentially complete solubilization of a lipopolysaccharidelike substance (LLS) from the outer membrane. Triton X-114 (0.1%) did not solubilize subsurface proteins, such as endoflagellar filaments or penicillin-binding proteins, which are markers for the periplasmic space and inner membrane, respectively. Triton X-114 solubilized material from both the virulent and attenuated strains, which partitioned into the hydrophobic, detergent phase, contained LLS and major proteins of 41 and 44 kDa, which were also immunoprecipitable from intact organisms. The virulent strain contained greater amounts of an LLS component with an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa (R(f) = 0.57), whereas the attenuated strain contained larger amounts of an LLS component with an apparent molecular mass of 20 kDa (R(f) = 0.74). Differences in protein components between virulent and attenuated organisms were also detected; whereas the 41- and 44-kDa proteins were immunoprecipitated in equal amounts from both the virulent and attenuated strains, a 33-kDa protein was immunoprecipitated in significantly greater amounts from the attenuated strain. Quantitation of outer membrane particle density by freeze-fracture electron microscopy showed that both strains had a low transmembrane outer membrane protein content compared with that of typical gram-negative bacteria. The virulent and attenuated strains had 443 and 990 particles (P less than 0.000001) per micron, respectively, in the concave outer membrane fracture face. These findings suggest that in vitro cultivation of L. interrogans is accompanied by quantitative and qualitative changes in both LLS and outer membrane-associated proteins.     

Temperature-regulated protein synthesis by Leptospira interrogans

Leptospira interrogans is an important mammalian pathogen. Transmission from an environmental source requires adaptations to a range of new environmental conditions in the organs and tissues of the infected host. Since many pathogenic bacteria utilize temperature to discern their environment and regulate the synthesis of appropriate proteins, we investigated the effects of temperature on protein synthesis in L. interrogans. Bacteria were grown for several days after culture temperatures were shifted from 30 to 37 degrees C. Triton X-114 cellular fractionation identified several proteins of the cytoplasm, periplasm, and outer membrane for which synthesis was dependent on the culture temperature. Synthesis of a cytoplasmic protein of 20 kDa was switched off at 37 degrees C, whereas synthesis of a 66-kDa periplasmic protein was increased at the higher temperature. Increased synthesis of a 25-kDa outer membrane protein was observed when the organisms were shifted from 30 to 37 degrees C. A 36-kDa protein synthesized at 30 but not at 37 degrees C was identified as LipL36, an outer membrane lipoprotein. In contrast, expression of another lipoprotein, LipL41, was the same at either temperature. Immunoblotting with convalescent equine sera revealed that some proteins exhibiting thermoregulation of synthesis elicited antibody responses during infection. Our results show that sera from horses which aborted as a result of naturally acquired infection with L. interrogans serovar pomona type kennewicki recognize periplasmic and outer membrane proteins which are differentially synthesized in response to temperature and which therefore may be important in the host-pathogen interaction during infection.     

Outer Membrane Proteins Omp10, Omp16, and Omp19 of Brucella spp. Are Lipoproteins

The deduced sequences of the Omp10, Omp16, and Omp19 outer membrane proteins of Brucella spp. contain a potential bacterial lipoprotein processing sequence. After extraction with Triton X-114, these three proteins partitioned into the detergent phase. Processing of the three proteins is inhibited by globomycin, a specific inhibitor of lipoprotein signal peptidase. The three proteins were radioimmunoprecipitated from [(3)H]palmitic acid-labeled Brucella abortus lysates with monoclonal antibodies. These results demonstrate that Omp10, Omp16, and Omp19 are lipoproteins.     

问号钩端螺旋体属特异性外膜蛋白OmpL1和LipL21抗原表位预测及鉴定

目的 筛选问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)属特异性外膜蛋白OmpL1和LipL21有效T和B细胞联合抗原表位,为研制多抗原肽(multiple antigenic peptide,MAP)疫苗提供基础.方法 采用生物信息学方法预测OmpL1和LipL21分子中T和B细胞联合抗原表位.采用PCR扩增候选联合抗原表位片段并分别构建其噬菌体展示系统.分别以rOmpL1或rLipL21、黄疸出血群赖株、钩体患者抗血清为一抗,采用Western blot检测各抗血清与目的表位的免疫反应性及其强度.结果 通过抗原表位预测,选择了高分值的4个OmpLl和2个LipL21联合表位.经扩增获得了预期的各抗原表位片段,各目的表位序列均准确插入噬菌体PⅢ蛋白N端并有效表达.各抗血清均能识别上述6个联合表位.其中LipL21的97～112和176-184表位对任一抗血清均显示相似强度的杂交条带.综合4个OmpL1表位对3种抗血清的不同Western blot结果及其实际意义,杂交信号从强到弱依次为173～191、87～98、297～320和59～78表位.结论 所研究的6个联合表位均分别为LipL21和OmpL1的有效抗原表位,其中LipL21的97～112、176～184和OmpL1的87～98、173～191表位可应用于钩体MAP疫苗研制.     

The T-cell-stimulating 17-kilodalton protein of Francisella tularensis LVS is a lipoprotein.

A T-cell-stimulating, membrane-located 17-kDa protein of the live vaccine strain Francisella tularensis LVS has previously been cloned and sequenced. In the present study, it is shown to be a lipoprotein. When F. tularensis was grown in the presence of [3H]palmitate, several proteins of the organism, including a 17-kDa protein, were radiolabeled. The labeled 17-kDa protein was found by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis to be identical to the cloned protein. It was located in the detergent phase after partitioning with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114, thereby behaving like a hydrophobic integral membrane protein. The protein was predominantly hydrophilic and contained no putative transmembrane domain. The presence of fatty acids is therefore the probable explanation of the membrane location of the 17-kDa protein. The amino acid sequence of the 17-kDa protein contains the tetrapeptide Leu-Ala-Ser-Cys, which is a recognition sequence of the lipoprotein signal peptidase. Globomycin, a specific inhibitor of the peptidase, inhibited maturation of the 17-kDa lipoprotein. The protein incorporated [3H]palmitate also when expressed by Escherichia coli. The 17-kDa lipoprotein was recognized not only by T cells but also by serum antibodies of F. tularensis-primed individuals.     

A newly identified leptospiral adhesin mediates attachment to laminin

Pathogenic leptospires have the ability to survive and disseminate to multiple organs after penetrating the host. Several pathogens, including spirochetes, have been shown to express surface proteins that interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM). This adhesin-mediated binding process seems to be a crucial step in the colonization of host tissues. This study examined the interaction of putative leptospiral outer membrane proteins with laminin, collagen type I, collagen type IV, cellular fibronectin, and plasma fibronectin. Six predicted coding sequences selected from the Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni genome were cloned, and proteins were expressed, purified by metal affinity chromatography, and characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Their capacity to mediate attachment to ECM components was evaluated by binding assays. We have identified a leptospiral protein encoded by LIC12906, named Lsa24 (leptospiral surface adhesin; 24 kDa) that binds strongly to laminin. Attachment of Lsa24 to laminin was specific, dose dependent, and saturable. Laminin oxidation by sodium metaperiodate reduced the protein-laminin interaction in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that laminin sugar moieties are crucial for this interaction. Triton X-114-solubilized extract of L. interrogans and phase partitioning showed that Lsa24 was exclusively in the detergent phase, indicating that it is a component of the leptospiral membrane. Moreover, Lsa24 partially inhibited leptospiral adherence to immobilized laminin. This newly identified membrane protein may play a role in mediating adhesion of L. interrogans to the host. To our knowledge, this is the first leptospiral adhesin with laminin-binding properties reported to date.     

Osmolarity, a key environmental signal controlling expression of leptospiral proteins LigA and LigB and the extracellular release of LigA

The high-molecular-weight leptospiral immunoglobulin-like repeat (Lig) proteins are expressed only by virulent low-passage forms of pathogenic Leptospira species. We examined the effects of growth phase and environmental signals on the expression, surface exposure, and extracellular release of LigA and LigB. LigA was lost from stationary-phase cells, while LigB expression was maintained. The loss of cell-associated LigA correlated with selective release of a lower-molecular-weight form of LigA into the culture supernatant, while LigB and the outer membrane lipoprotein LipL41 remained associated with cells. Addition of tissue culture medium to leptospiral culture medium induced LigA and LigB expression and caused a substantial increase in released LigA. The sodium chloride component of tissue culture medium was primarily responsible for the enhanced release of LigA. Addition of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or sodium sulfate to leptospiral medium to physiological osmolarity caused the induction of both cell-associated LigA and LigB, indicating that osmolarity regulates the expression of Lig proteins. Osmotic induction of Lig expression also resulted in enhanced release of LigA and increased surface exposure of LigB, as determined by surface immunofluorescence. Osmolarity appears to be a key environmental signal that controls the expression of LigA and LigB.     

问号钩端螺旋体T和B细胞表位联合基因的原核表达及其产物免疫性分析

目的 构建问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)LipL32、OmpL1和LipL21蛋白的优势T-和B-细胞联合表位融合基因及其原核表达系统,并对表达产物的免疫原性进行鉴定.方法 人工合成多表位联合基因并构建其原核表达系统.采用SDS-PAGE检测重组蛋白;采用MAT检测重组蛋白兔抗血清与我国钩体标准参考株的凝集效价;Western blot和ELISA检测重组蛋白的免疫原性.结果 获得了多表位融合基因并构建了原核表达系统.表达产物的相对分子质量约为23×103,且主要以可溶性形式存在;重组蛋白兔抗血清免疫双扩散效价为1∶8,该抗血清能与我国15群的钩体标准参考株发生凝集反应,ELISA证明该重组蛋白能检测不同群型钩体感染患者血清中的抗钩体抗体.结论 成功构建了包含钩体LipL32、OmpL1和LipL21蛋白的优势T和B细胞联合表位基因及其原核表达系统,表达产物具有良好的抗原性和交叉免疫反应性,可作为研制通用型问号钩体基因工程疫苗及血清学检测的抗原.     

Leptospiral Proteins Recognized during the Humoral Immune Response to Leptospirosis in Humans

Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis caused by pathogenic spirochetes belonging to the genus Leptospira. An understanding of leptospiral protein expression regulation is needed to develop new immunoprotective and serodiagnostic strategies. We used the humoral immune response during human leptospirosis as a reporter of protein antigens expressed during infection. Qualitative and quantitative immunoblot analysis was performed using sera from 105 patients from Brazil and Barbados. Sera from patients with other diseases and healthy individuals were evaluated as controls. Seven proteins, p76, p62, p48, p45, p41, p37, and p32, were identified as targets of the humoral response during natural infection. In both acute and convalescent phases of illness, antibodies to lipopolysaccharide were predominantly immunoglobulin M (IgM) while antibodies to proteins were exclusively IgG. Anti-p32 reactivity had the greatest sensitivity and specificity: positive reactions were observed in 37 and 84% of acute- and convalescent-phase sera, respectively, while only 5% of community control individuals demonstrated positive reactions. Six immunodominant antigens were expressed by all pathogenic leptospiral strains tested; only p37 was inconsistently expressed. Two-dimensional immunoblots identified four of the seven infection-associated antigens as being previously characterized proteins: LipL32 (the major outer membrane lipoprotein), LipL41 (a surface-exposed outer membrane lipoprotein), and heat shock proteins GroEL and DnaK. Fractionation studies demonstrated LipL32 and LipL41 reactivity in the outer membrane fraction and GroEL and DnaK in the cytoplasmic fraction, while p37 appeared to be a soluble periplasmic protein. Most of the other immunodominant proteins, including p48 and p45, were localized to the inner membrane. These findings indicate that leptospiral proteins recognized during natural infection are potentially useful for serodiagnosis and may serve as targets for vaccine design.     

Characterization of outer membrane and secreted proteins of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona

Outer membrane and secreted proteins were isolated from Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona and characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblot and radioimmunoprecipitation techniques. The L. interrogans outer membranes were extracted with Triton X-114 and contained several proteins. The major cellular protein with a molecular mass of 31 kDa was associated exclusively with the L. interrogans outer membrane. Using a whole cell immunoprecipitation method, five hydrophobic, Triton X-114 extractable proteins (22, 26, 31, 36 and 42 kDa) were exposed on the surface of L. interrogans. The 31 kDa protein was heat labile and was a potent antigen in animals experimentally infected with L. interrogans serovar pomona. Several proteins were secreted by L. interrogans including a 60 kDa protein tentatively identified as the L. interrogans hemolysin.     

Identification and localization of integral membrane proteins of virulent Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum by phase partitioning with the nonionic detergent triton X-114.

Integral membrane proteins of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum) were identified by phase partitioning with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114; antigens with apparent molecular masses of 47, 38, 36, 34, 32, 17, and 15 kilodaltons (kDa) were identified in the detergent phase. Immunoblotting with murine monoclonal antibodies directed against pathogen-specific 47- and 34-kDa T. pallidum antigens confirmed their presence in the detergent phase. Endoflagellar proteins of T. pallidum were not detected in immunoblots of detergent-phase proteins when monospecific antisera directed against endoflagella of the nonpathogenic T. phagedenis biotype Reiter were used. At detergent concentrations (0.02 and 0.1%) which appeared to solubilize selectively the outer membranes of treponemes radiolabeled with 35S in vitro, limited amounts of detergent-phase proteins were immunoprecipitated. Greater amounts of detergent-phase proteins were extracted at higher detergent concentrations (0.5 and 2.0%) which resulted in both outer membrane solubilization and ultrastructural derangements of the residual cytoplasmic bodies. Furthermore, Triton X-114 extraction of both intact treponemes and organisms without outer membranes yielded detergent phases with similar protein profiles. The results of these experiments indicate that the hydrophobic proteins identified by Triton X-114 are not located exclusively in the T. pallidum outer membrane. The results are also consistent with the hypothesis that the T. pallidum outer membrane is a protein-deficient lipid bilayer.