Identification of immunogenic outer membrane proteins of Pasteurella multocida 3:A in rabbits.

Four groups of protective rabbit immune sera were used to identify Pasteurella multocida outer membrane immunogens by a radioimmunoprecipitation procedure and Western blot (immunoblot) analysis. These are rabbit hyperimmune sera against KSCN extract of P. multocida (group 1) and rabbit immune sera against the KSCN extract of P. multocida (group 2), the outer membrane of P. multocida (group 3), and live P. multocida cells (group 4). Rabbits mounted an antibody response to 18 proteins found in the outer membrane of P. multocida, and the major antibody activities were directed to the 27,000-molecular-weight outer membrane protein (27K protein), as well as the 37.5K, 49.5K, 58.7K, and 64.4K outer membrane proteins. These outer membrane immunogens appear to be exposed on the cell surface and accessible to antibodies, since adsorption of these immune sera with intact P. multocida cells resulted in a significant reduction of antibody activities directed against these proteins, especially the 37.5K protein. Antibodies eluted from immune serum-P. multocida cell complexes were reactive to the 37.5K immunogen, confirming that this protein is exposed on cell surface and accessible to antibodies. Western blot analyses with group 1, 3, and 4 immune sera confirmed that the 27K, 37.5K, 49.5K, 58.7K, and 64.4K proteins are the major outer membrane immunogens of P. multocida in rabbits. Lung lavages of immunized rabbits also contained similar antibody activities directed against several outer membrane proteins, with major activities against the 37.5K and 64.4K proteins.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G antibody to Pasteurella multocida in rabbits.

Three antigen preparations of Pasteurella multocida, lipopolysaccharide antigen, boiled-cell extract antigen, and boiled whole-bacterium antigen, were used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect rabbit immunoglobulin G antibody to P. multocida. The sensitivity of each antigen preparation was compared by using sera from P. multocida-infected and uninfected rabbits and sera from two rabbits immunized with different serotypes of P. multocida. In the ELISA, all three antigen preparations detected high titers of antibodies in infected rabbits and markedly lower levels in uninfected rabbits. When whole-bacterium or boiled-cell extract antigens were used, the ELISA detected antibodies in sera from both immunized rabbits, but with lipopolysaccharide antigen, only antibody to the homologous serotype was detected. Sera absorbed with P. multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica, another respiratory pathogen of rabbits, revealed that antibodies detected in the ELISA did not cross-react. Since the lipopolysaccharide antigen was more difficult to prepare and may be type specific, and since the whole-bacterium antigen was the least sensitive, the boiled-cell extract was chosen as the best antigen preparation to use in the ELISA.     

The outer membrane of Pasteurella multocida 3:A protects rabbits against homologous challenge.

The protective efficacy of a vaccine purified from the Pasteurella multocida 3:A outer membrane (OM) was evaluated in rabbits by homologous challenge. Twenty-seven rabbits were divided into four groups: 1, vaccinated with OM and challenged; 2, nonvaccinated and challenged; 3, vaccinated with OM only; and 4, nonvaccinated and not challenged. Rabbits were immunized intranasally with 1 mg of OM protein on days 0, 7, 14, and 35, challenged intranasally on day 49, and killed on day 63. Mortality rates were 0, 67, 0, and 0% for groups 1 through 4, respectively. The prevalence of pneumonia was reduced from 73 (group 2) to 20% (group 1). The severity of pneumonia was reduced from 0.62 (group 2) to 0.07 (group 1), as measured by the group lesion index. The number of P. multocida in nasal cavities was reduced from 3.89 x 10(5) (group 2) to 6.19 x 10(2) (group 1). The geometric mean number of P. multocida in lungs was 8,360,000-fold less in group 1 than in group 2. Similarly, the prevalence of P. multocida colonization in nonrespiratory organs was reduced from 47 (group 2) to 4% (group 1). Furthermore, group 1 and 3 rabbits developed significantly elevated immunoglobulin A antibodies in nasal secretions and lung lavages and significantly elevated immunoglobulin G antibodies in lung lavages and sera. In addition, rabbit immune sera contained antibodies against P. multocida OM proteins and lipopolysaccharides and inhibited P. multocida proliferation in mouse lungs. These results indicate that a vaccine prepared from the OM of P. multocida provides a significant protection in rabbits against homologous challenge.     

Serological response to Pasteurella multocida NanH sialidase in persistently colonized rabbits

Pasteurella multocida is a mucosal pathogen that colonizes the upper respiratory system of rabbits. Respiratory infections can result, but the bacteria can also invade the circulatory system, producing abscesses or septicemia. P. multocida produces extracellular sialidase activity, which is believed to augment colonization of the respiratory tract and the production of lesions in an active infection. Previously, it was demonstrated that some isolates of P. multocida contain two unique sialidase genes, nanH and nanB, that encode enzymes with different substrate specificities (S. Mizan, A. D. Henk, A. Stallings, M. Meier, J. J. Maurer, and M. D. Lee, J. Bacteriol. 182:6874-6883, 2000). We developed a recombinant antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the NanH sialidase of P. multocida and demonstrated that rabbits that were experimentally colonized with P. multocida produce detectable anti-NanH immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG in serum, although they demonstrated no clinical signs of pasteurellosis. In addition, clinically ill pet rabbits infected with P. multocida possessed IgM and/or IgG antibody against NanH. The NanH ELISA may be useful for the diagnosis of P. multocida infections in sick rabbits as well as for screening for carriers in research rabbit colonies.     

A potassium thiocyanate extract vaccine prepared from Pasteurella multocida 3:A protects rabbits against homologous challenge.

Potassium thiocyanate extracts of a virulent Pasteurella multocida 3:A rabbit isolate were prepared and used as a vaccine in rabbits. The extract contained protein, carbohydrate, hyaluronic acid, lipopolysaccharide, DNA, and RNA. The protein and lipopolysaccharide profiles of the extract were similar to those of the P. multocida cell membrane. Rabbits were vaccinated intranasally (i.n.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) four times at 1- or 3-week intervals and challenged i.n. with the homologous P. multocida 2 weeks after the last vaccination. Rabbits vaccinated with the extract by the i.n. route developed persisting serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and nasal IgA antibodies, whereas rabbits immunized by the i.m. route produced persisting serum IgG and transient nasal IgA antibodies. The extract prevents the death of rabbits which were vaccinated by either route and challenged. Vaccination by the i.n. route in rabbits reduced the numbers of virulent P. multocida in nasal cavities and lungs and the prevalence and severity of rhinitis and pneumonia. These i.n.-vaccinated rabbits were also resistant to virulent P. multocida colonization in liver, spleen, uterus, and tympanic bullae. Similarly, i.m. vaccination in rabbits resulted in a reduction in the severity of rhinitis; the numbers of virulent P. multocida in lungs; and the prevalence of colonization in liver, spleen, uterus, and tympanic bullae. Vaccination by the i.n. route was superior to that by the i.m. route in that there was a significant reduction in the severity of pneumonia and numbers of virulent P. multocida in nasal cavities and lungs. Rabbits vaccinated with the extract without challenge showed no lesions.     

Protection of rabbits against experimental pasteurellosis by vaccination with a potassium thiocyanate extract of Pasteurella multocida.

Antigens were extracted from a virulent isolate of Pasteurella multocida (serotype 3, 12, 15:D) with potassium thiocyanate, and a vaccine was prepared. Pasteurella-free rabbits were vaccinated intranasally and intraconjuctivally twice with a 2-week interval and challenged intranasally with the homologous P. multocida serotype 2 weeks after the second vaccination. The vaccinated rabbits produced serum immunoglobulin G and nasal mucosal immunoglobulin A against P. multocida. The vaccine protected the challenged rabbits against clinical disease and death; however, otitis media was not prevented, and microscopic inflammatory lesions were occasionally noted in the lungs and nasal turbinates. In contrast, nonvaccinated, challenged rabbits became febrile, dyspnic, depressed, and anorectic, and five of six died within 4 days of challenge with severe lesions including pneumonia, pleuritis, otitis media, and bacteremia. The vaccine prevented death and colonization of challenge organisms in the blood and lung, but did not prevent colonization of the middle ear. The vaccine alone did not cause clinical disease or gross lesions, but did produce microscopic pulmonary inflammatory lesions.     

A monoclonal antibody against a Pasteurella multocida outer membrane protein protects rabbits and mice against pasteurellosis.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the 37.5-kDa outer membrane protein were produced by fusing myeloma cells with spleen cells obtained from mice immunized with a pathogenic strain of Pasteurella multocida isolated from a rabbit. Desirable MAbs were selected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whole-cell radioimmunoprecipitation (WC-RIP), and Western blot (immunoblot) analysis. WC-RIP and Western blot analyses, using MAb 1608 adsorbed with intact P. multocida cells and the eluted MAb, demonstrated that the antigen recognized by this MAb is exposed on the cell surface, is antibody accessible, and has an estimated molecular mass of 37.5 kDa. Treatment of outer membrane vesicles of P. multocida with proteinase K totally abrogated the MAb 1608 activity, indicating that this MAb binds to a protein antigenic determinant. Furthermore, MAb 1608 was nonreactive to purified lipopolysaccharide in Western blot analysis. Passive transfer studies showed that nine rabbits inoculated intranasally with MAb 1608 and homologously challenged intranasally had significantly reduced mortality, severity of pneumonia, prevalence of P. multocida colonization in nonrespiratory organs, and numbers of P. multocida in nasal cavities compared with the controls. Furthermore, the number of P. multocida in lungs was reduced 84,750-fold. Similarly, passive transfer experiments indicated that MAb 1608 protected mice against homologous and heterologous challenges with P. multocida strains bearing the antigenic determinant recognized by MAb 1608. However, no protection was afforded by MAb 1608 when mice were challenged with a P. multocida strain lacking the antigenic determinant recognized by MAb 1608. This study establishes that the 37.5-kDa outer membrane protein is the target for a protective MAb.     

Antibodies to outer membrane proteins but not to lipopolysaccharide inhibit pulmonary proliferation of Pasteurella multocida in mice.

The role of rabbit antibodies against Pasteurella multocida outer membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in resistance remains unknown. Pooled immune sera against P. multocida outer membranes were prepared from specific-pathogen-free rabbits immunized with sucrose gradient-purified P. multocida outer membranes. Western immunoblotting showed that purified outer membrane protein antibodies reacted strongly against the outer membrane proteins but not the purified LPS. Affinity-purified LPS antibodies exhibited strong reactivity against purified LPS and very little reactivity against outer membrane vesicles. Mice were inoculated intranasally with immune serum or normal rabbit serum, challenged intranasally with 10(6) CFU of P. multocida, and euthanatized 48 h later to determine the number of P. multocida organisms in the lungs. Mice inoculated with pooled immune serum had a 3,300-fold reduction (P less than 0.001) in the numbers of P. multocida in the lungs as compared with the controls. Similarly, mice inoculated with purified outer membrane protein antibodies had a 201-fold reduction (P less than 0.001) in the numbers of P. multocida. Conversely, mice inoculated with affinity-purified LPS antibodies had a 1.1-fold reduction (P greater than 0.50) in the numbers of P. multocida. These results show that antibodies against the outer membrane proteins but not the LPS are the components of rabbit immune sera which inhibit P. multocida proliferation in mouse lungs.     

Intranasal immunization of mice against Pasteurella multocida.

A potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) extract of Pasteurella multocida serotype III:A was shown to protect mice from an intranasal challenge with up to 300 50% lethal doses of P. multocida. In addition to preventing death, bacteria were rapidly cleared from the lungs of immunized mice so that by 72 to 96 h postchallenge no bacteria were present in the lungs of immunized mice, whereas up to 10(9) bacteria were present in lungs of nonimmunized mice. Immunization by the intranasal route was slightly better than that by the intramuscular route. Protection was considered specific, since immunization with P. multocida protected only against P. multocida and not against Salmonella agona. Furthermore, a similar KSCN extract from P. haemolytica did not protect against P. multocida challenge. A comparison of the KSCN extract with a Formalin-killed bacterin suggested that the KSCN extract may be superior to the bacterin.     

猪瘟病毒E2蛋白重复多表位基因的融合表达及其兔体免疫保护研究

目的：研究猪瘟病毒(CSFV)E2蛋白重复多抗原表位基因的融合表达及其免疫攻毒保护作用。方法：应用PCR方法扩增猪瘟病毒E2蛋白重复多抗原表位基因，构建重复多表位基因的原核重组表达质粒PGEX-3E，进行融合蛋白的表达和纯化。ELISA和Western blot方法测定单表位融合蛋白GST-E和多表位融合蛋白GST-3E与猪抗CSFV的阳性血清和兔抗E2阳性血清的反应性，并进行融合蛋白的兔体免疫及免疫攻毒保护的比较研究。结果：分子克隆和构建了原核重组表达质粒pGEX-3E，表达和纯化了融合蛋白GST-3E；单表位融合蛋白与重复多表位融合蛋白均能够与猪抗CSFV的阳性血清反应和兔抗E2的阳性血清产生免疫反应。在刺激兔体产生抗体方面，单表位融合蛋白刺激兔体产生抗体的能力较弱，而多表位融合蛋白则能够使兔体产生高效价的抗体。接种100MID50剂量猪瘟兔化弱毒(HCLV)进行的兔体免疫攻毒保护试验表明，空白对照组和载体蛋白GST免疫组无保护作用，单表位融合蛋白免疫组具有一定的免疫保护作用，而重复多表位融合蛋白免疫组则完全能够抵抗猪瘟病毒的攻击。结论：猪瘟病毒E2蛋白重复多表位的融合表达具有免疫保护作用，本实验的成功完成为猪瘟病毒多表位抗原的串联及多表位疫苗的研究奠定了基础。     

Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica infections in rabbits.

The natural history of infection with Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica in domestic rabbits was studied prospectively at a commercial rabbitry. At weaning, about 25% of rabbits had nasal infections with P. multocida and 75% had infections with B. bronchiseptica. Infection of weanling rabbits paralleled nasal infections of their dams. The proportion of rabbits with both infections increased with age. At 2 to 4 months old, about 50% of rabbits with P. multocida or P. multocida and B. bronchiseptica infections had upper respiratory disease (URD), whereas rabbits with B. bronchiseptica infection had no disease. In rabbits about 10 months old, 75% with P. multocida or P. multocida and B. bronchiseptica infections had URD, whereas virtually none with B. bronchiseptica infection had disease. Disease of the nares, paranasal sinuses, middle ears, and lungs was associated with P. multocida and not B. bronchiseptica infection. In adult rabbits with nasal P. multocida infection, with or without signs of URD, about 80% had concurrent infection of the paranasal sinuses and middle ears and 20% had infection of the bronchi and lungs. In rabbits without nasal P. multocida infection, 20 to 35% had P. multocida infection of the paranasal sinuses and middle ears. Weanling rabbits with and without P. multocida infection had similar immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. In rabbits observed prospectively, the only antibody differences between those transiently and persistently infected with P. multocida were a diminished IgA response in nasal lavages and an earlier IgM response in sera of transiently infected rabbits. IgG levels increased with the duration of infection. There was no relationship between immunoglobulin levels and freedom from P. multocida infection.     

Cross-reactivity of Haemophilus somnus antibody in agglutination and complement fixation tests and in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The specificity and sensitivity of agglutination, complement fixation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures in the detection of antibodies to Haemophilus somnus was investigated. H. somnus rabbit immune sera were found to agglutinate Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus agni and, in some instances, also Pasteurella haemolytica, Salmonella dublin, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Corynebacterium pyogenes. In complement fixation tests with saline extracts as antigens, only H. agni reacted with H. somnus antisera to any significant degree. In ELISA tests with sonicated or heat-extracted antigens, cross-reactions were seen with the two Pasteurella spp. and with H. agni. When whole cells and saline extracts were used as antigens in ELISAs, only H. agni showed any cross-reactivity. The greatest specificity in distinguishing homologous from heterologous reactions was achieved by ELISA with saline extracts as antigens. Escherichia coli and Brucella abortus antigens failed to react with H. somnus antibody in any of the tests. A rabbit serum containing antibody to bovine type isolates of P. multocida, P. haemolytica, S. aureus, S. agalactiae, S. dublin, C. pyogenes, and E. coli gave no positive reaction in ELISA tests with saline extract of H. somnus as antigen. It is concluded that such saline extract, which appears to consist largely of H. somnus common antigen, has the potential of being a useful diagnostic reagent in the study by ELISA of antibody response to H. somnus.     

Bactericidal activity of alveolar and peritoneal macrophages exposed in vitro to three strains of Pasteurella multocida.

Normal ICR mice were infected intravenously, intraperitoneally, or aerogenically with Pasteurella multocida strains isolated from a turkey (S68), calf (V90), or rabbit (J20) lung. Both the turkey and calf isolates were highly virulent for mice and multiplied logarithmically in the lungs, liver, and spleen, resulting in death of the animals in 18 to 36 h. The rabbit strain was avirulent for mice, but repeated passage in mice did result in some increased virulence. All three strains of P. multocida were inactivated rapidly by normal mouse peritoneal macrophages, provided that the organisms were opsonized with specific hyperimmune serum before being exposed to the macrophage monolayers. P. multocida was slowly inactivated by normal mouse alveolar macrophages when the organisms were preopsonized. However, the surviving organisms later multiplied extensively in vitro. Macrophages harvested from hyperimmunized mice were no better at inactivating opsonized P. multocida cells than were normal mouse cells. The relative importance of the different phagocytic cell populations in the uptake and killing of opsonized P. multocida cells is discussed in relation to immunity to this important animal pathogen.     

Protection of rabbits against experimental pasteurellosis by a streptomycin-dependent Pasteurella multocida serotype 3:A live mutant vaccine.

Pasteurella multocida (serotype 3:A) was isolated from a rabbit with clinical signs of suppurative rhinitis. This P. multocida strain was mutagenized with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine to obtain a genetically stable streptomycin-dependent mutant, from which a life vaccine was prepared. Pasteurella-free rabbits were inoculated intranasally three times at weekly intervals and challenged intranasally with a virulent serotype 3:A rabbit P. multocida isolate 2 weeks after the third vaccination. The rabbits were killed 2 to 3 weeks later. The vaccine did not cause clinical disease, death, or gross or microscopic lesions. Furthermore, the vaccine protected the challenge rabbits from developing clinical disease, death, and gross lesions. However, mild focal lung lesions were noted in several of the vaccinated-challenged animals. In contrast, nonvaccinated-challenged rabbits developed pyrexia and anorexia. Furthermore, three of four of these rabbits died with severe gross lesions including pyothorax, suppurative pericarditis, and fibrinopurulent pneumonia. Microscopically, the four nonvaccinated rabbits had moderate to severe suppurative pneumonia and mild to moderate suppurative rhinitis, and two had mild tympanitis. The mutant vaccine did not appear to colonize the nasal cavities. The vaccine prevented the colonization of the virulent challenge organism in lungs, liver, spleen, genital tracts, and blood, but not the nasal cavities.     

Antibodies Produced by Rabbits Immunized with Visna Virus

Immunization of New Zealand White rabbits with purified visna virus elicited antibody activity demonstrated by passive hemagglutination (PHA), complement fixation (CF), and indirect immunofluorescent tests. The antibody activities of hyperimmune sera and Sephadex G-200 fractions of the sera were studied. It was found that the PHA test was 10 to 100 times more sensitive than the CF test in detecting visna antibodies in rabbits. It was also found that the immunoglobulin M fractions from Sephadex G-200 filtration displayed greater PHA activity than did the immunoglobulin G fractions. Although neutralizing antibody was demonstrated in the serum of the natural host (sheep), our attempts to demonstrate neutralizing antibody in the sera from hyperimmunized rabbits (non-natural host) so far have failed.     

Detection of Antibodies to Pasteurella multocida by capture enzyme immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody against P37 antigen.

As infection with Pasteurella multocida is common in rabbits, an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed for its detection. A murine immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibody was used to capture a 37-kDa polypeptide of P. multocida serotype A:12 in an EIA to detect antibodies to P. multocida. The 37-kDa antigen was selected since it was previously shown to be a major immunogen during P. multocida infection in rabbits. The sensitivity of the P37 EIA, determined with sera from 56 rabbits infected with P. multocida, was 98%. Specificity, evaluated with sera from 62 rabbits from colonies free of P. multocida, was 92%. Titration curves of sera from rabbits immunized with P. multocida serotype A:3 or A:12 coincided, indicating that the P37 EIA was equally efficient in detecting antibodies to the two major serotypes of the organism. Comparison of the P37 EIA with the current serodiagnostic test, a bacterial lysate EIA, revealed relatively good correlation (r = 0.68). However, specificity was greatly improved, as 34% of uninfected rabbits were falsely positive by the lysate EIA whereas only 3% of uninfected rabbits were falsely positive by the P37 EIA. The coefficient of variation for same-day tests was 10%, and that for interday tests was 15%, indicating good reproducibility. The greater sensitivity and specificity of the P37 EIA should significantly enhance diagnostic capability to identify rabbits infected with P. multocida.     

Protection of rabbits against lapinized rinderpest virus with purified envelope glycoproteins of peste-des-petits-ruminants and rinderpest viruses.

Haemagglutinin (HA) and fusion (F) proteins of peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) and rinderpest virus (RPV) were purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. The purified proteins were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). Rabbit hyperimmune sera were raised against the purified HA and F proteins and assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), haemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) and virus neutralization (VN) tests. The immunized animals were challenged with a virulent lapinized (rabbit-adapted) strain of RPV. Both HA and F proteins of PPRV protected rabbits against a lethal challenge with lapinized RPV. As expected, RPV HA and F proteins also conferred a similar protection against the homologous challenge. The postchallenge antibody responses were of a true anamnestic type.     

Detection of anti-teichoic acid immunoglobulin G antibodies in experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to purified cell wall teichoic acids from the Staphylococcus aureus Lafferty strain and three strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Significant immunological cross-reactivity occurred only between the teichoic acid of S. aureus and one coagulase-negative preparation. The ELISA was used to determine the serum IgG response to Staphylococcus epidermidis in a rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis. Blood samples were drawn before inoculation and then every 5 days until death or sacrifice at 32 to 35 days postinoculation. Valve vegetations were culture positive at autopsy in 16 (59%) of the 27 catheterized rabbits. Antibody titers in this culture-positive group and the culture-negative group began to rise as early as day 6. Although both groups demonstrated an antibody response, the culture-positive group attained a significantly higher titer on days 26 and 31. Antibodies also rose in a control group of rabbits without a heart catheter but which were inoculated with bacteria. Again, the antibody titer was significantly less than that for the culture-positive group. This ELISA may be useful for the diagnosis of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections in humans.     

Detection of Rift Valley fever virus antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A double-antibody (sandwich) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adapted to detect Rift Valley fever virus antigen. Antibodies were purified from hyperimmune mouse and rabbit sera by affinity chromatography, using CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B coupled to a beta-propiolactone-inactivated sucrose-acetone-extracted suckling mouse liver antigen. In the assay, antigen was captured by mouse antibody adsorbed to polystyrene plates and then detected by reacting sequentially with rabbit anti-Rift Valley fever virus antibody and swine anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. ELISA proved to be useful in measuring viral antigen in different animal systems. However, great variation was found in the amount of antigen per PFU encountered in different circumstances. The ELISA system was optimized using supernatant fluids from infected Vero cell cultures and had a sensitivity of 10(5) PFU/ml. Hamsters develop progressive viremia, much as seen in susceptible domestic animals, such as lambs; ELISA could reliably detect 10(6) PFU/ml of viremic hamster serum. Rhesus monkeys with Rift Valley fever infection were positive by ELISA even when viremias were only 5 X 10(3) PFU/ml. ELISA also proved to be useful in measuring viral antigen in infected mosquitoes.     

Cloning and expression of the major 47-kilodalton surface immunogen of Treponema pallidum in Escherichia coli.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the 47-kilodalton (kDa) major outer membrane surface immunogen of virulent Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum were used to select Escherichia coli recombinant clones expressing the 47-kDa immunogen. The phenotype of the clones was dependent on the presence of recombinant plasmid in the host cell. Southern hybridization revealed that the cloned T. pallidum subsp. pallidum DNA sequence was an accurate representation of the T. pallidum subsp. pallidum genomic DNA arrangement. Purified immunoglobulin G from rabbits experimentally infected with T. pallidum subsp. pallidum and human secondary syphilitic sera specifically reacted with the clones, while normal human serum or immunoglobulin G from normal rabbit serum did not. Results of Southern hybridization indicated that a homologous 47-kDa immunogen gene was absent in at least four species of nonpathogenic treponemes tested, as well as from total rabbit genomic DNA. Rabbit anti-T. phagedenis biotype Reiter (treponemal nonpathogen) antiserum and a monoclonal antibody directed against a common treponemal determinant were unreactive with the clones. Western blotting and radioimmunoprecipitation experiments with specific monoclonal antibodies revealed that the recombinant (E. coli) and native (T. pallidum subsp. pallidum) forms of the antigen had identical electrophoretic mobilities. The availability of recombinant 47-kDa immunogen provides a new opportunity for biochemical analysis of the protein, structure-function studies, examination of its role in microbial pathogenesis, and assessment of its diagnostic and vaccinogenic potentials.