Relationship between infectivity and cytopathology for L-929 cells, membrane proteins, and antigenicity of avian isolates of Chlamydia psittaci

Seventeen isolates of Chlamydia psittaci from various avian species were examined. Based on their infectivity and cytopathology for L-929 cells, these isolates were separable into a high-infectivity group (HIG) and a low-infectivity group (LIG). Differences in the molecular weight of the major outer membrane proteins (MOMPs) of the isolates correlated with differences in infectivity. The HIG MOMPs had a molecular weight of 43,500, and the LIG MOMPs had a molecular weight of 45,500. The MOMP of one mammalian isolate of C. psittaci examined had a molecular weight of 43,500. Antisera raised against some of the isolates reacted with only the MOMP from isolates of their respective groups. The MOMPs of a mammalian C. psittaci isolate and of the C. trachomatis LGV 440 isolate did not react with HIG or LIG antisera. The MOMPs of some avian C. psittaci did react weakly with antiserum against the LGV 440 isolate of C. trachomatis.     

Comparison of Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains and identification of immunogenic integral membrane proteins with Triton X-114 by immunoblotting.

Pooled chicken antisera from 33 and 77 days post Mycoplasma gallisepticum strain R contact-exposure reacted with cell proteins of 19 M. gallisepticum strains. These pooled antisera reacted with more proteins and with greater intensity to reference strains (R, PG31, S6, and A5969) and nine field strains than they did with six other field strains including three (703, 503, and 730) that have been described as serological variants. Following extraction with Triton X-114 the majority of immunogenic M. gallisepticum proteins partitioned exclusively or primarily into the detergent phase indicating that they are integral membrane proteins. This included three immunogenic species-specific proteins (p64, p56 and p26). M. gallisepticum p56 was detected, by immunoblotting, in 18 of 19 strains suggesting that it could serve as an antigen for serological tests. P26 was evident in 13 of 19 strains. Hyperimmune antiserum to p64 reacted with a 64 kDa protein in 19 M. gallisepticum strains, but did not react with seven other avian Mycoplasma spp. There was no evidence found supporting the view that p64 is the hemagglutinin of M. gallisepticum.     

Comparison of pig, rabbit and mouse IgG response to Streptococcus suis serotype 2 proteins and active immunization of mice against the infection.

The aim of this study was to compare the IgG response of different animal species to Streptococcus suis serotype 2 proteins and to evaluate the immunogenic potential of these proteins in the mouse experimental model of infection. The protein profiles of ten different S. suis capsular type 2 isolates were compared by Western blotting using antisera produced in mice, rabbits and pigs against the reference strain. Strains were grown overnight in Todd-Hewitt broth, harvested by centrifugation, processed in a French press cell and digested with lysozyme. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was then performed and proteins transferred to nitrocellulose. The rabbit antiserum recognized seventeen common immunoreactive proteins, of which, proteins of 33, 44, 96, 122 kDa were present in all strains. Two, 128 and 136 kDa proteins were recognized by swine serum in many strains. An additional protein of 30 kDa was recognized by the mouse antiserum. These seven proteins, originating from the reference strain, were excised directly from polyacrylamide gels, mixed with incomplete Freund's adjuvant and given to groups of five mice on days 0 and 10. Immunoglobulin G response to each protein was monitored on day 20 using Western blots. Mice were then experimentally infected on day 21. Results indicated that vaccination with proteins of 33, 44, 128 and 136 kDa resulted in an IgG response and protection against the challenge with the reference strain, but gave only a partial protection against another virulent S. suis serotype 2 strain.     

Humoral immune response of turkeys to strain S6 and a variant Mycoplasma gallisepticum studied by immunoblotting.

Two putative variant Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) strains (M876 and M35), originally isolated from commercial turkeys, were compared with eight well-characterized MG strains by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE protein profiles indicated that the variant strains were correctly classified as MG based on homologous patterns in species-specific regions of the electrophoretic profiles. However, differences in protein profiles also indicated that variant strains M876 and M35 were different from each other and the other MG strains tested. Immunoblotting was used to assess the humoral immune response of turkeys to infection with the S6 reference strain or M876 variant strain of MG. Immunoblots using antisera to M876 showed that seroconversion to this isolate was slower, and to fewer MG proteins when compared with immunoblots using antisera to S6. Immunoblot analyses further indicated that pooled antisera from turkeys inoculated with either S6 or M876 reacted with each of 10 MG strains tested. However, pooled S6 antisera reacted with greater intensity and with more MG proteins than did pooled M876 antisera. The species-specific immunodominant proteins with the greatest potential for use as antigens in serologic tests appeared to be those of 64 (p64) and 56 (p56) kilodaltons molecular mass.     

Evaluation of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis purified proteins of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae as antigens in a dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Selected immunogenic proteins of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) strain R and M. synoviae (MS) isolate F10-2AS were purified from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Purified MG proteins of 65 to 63 (p64) kilodaltons (kDa), and 26 and 24 (p26/24) kDa, and purified MS proteins of 53 (p53) kDa, 41 (p41) kDa, and 22 (p22) kDa were evaluated as potential antigens for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chicken antisera to MG, MS, or oil-emulsion vaccines were used to evaluate these purified proteins as antigens in a dot-ELISA. MG antigen p64 detected antibodies 3 days after the serum plate agglutination (SPA) test and 7 days before the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. Antigen p64 detected antibodies to 12 MG isolates, and in sera from field outbreaks of MG. No cross-reactions with MS-positive antisera were seen with antigen p64. MG antigen p26/24 did not perform as well as p64. MS antigen p41 detected antibodies 5 days after the SPA test and at least 11 days before the HI test, and in sera from field outbreaks of MS. However, some MG-positive antisera reacted with p41. MS antigens p53 and p22 did not perform well.     

Expression of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydophila abortus, Chlamydophila pecorum, and Chlamydia suis in Escherichia coli using an arabinose-inducible plasmid vector

The ompA genes encoding the 40 kDa major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydophila (Ch.) abortus, Ch. pecorum, and Chlamydia (C.) suis were cloned into the arabinose-inducible plasmid vector pBADMycHis, and recombinant MOMPs (rMOMP) from the three chlamydial species were expressed at high levels in Escherichia (E.) coli. The proteins lacking the 22 aa N-terminal signal peptide were expressed as insoluble cytoplasmic inclusion bodies which were readily purified using immobilized metal-affinity chromatography. The rMOMPs including the N-terminal signal peptide were expressed and translocated as a surface-exposed immunoaccessible protein into the outer membrane of E. coli. Transformants expressing this full-length rMOMP were significantly reduced in viability. Purified native elementary bodies (EB) and rMOMPs of the three chlamydial species purified from the E. coli cytoplasm were used for immunization of rabbits. The resulting sera were analysed for their ability to recognize homologous and heterologous rMOMP and native EB. When testing rMOMP antisera against rMOMP and EB antigens, marked cross-reactivities were detected between the three species. Using EB antisera and rMOMPs as antigens, a significant species-specific reactivity was measured.     

Characterisation of Chlamydia psittaci isolated from a horse

This paper describes the isolation and characterisation of a strain of Chlamydia psittaci obtained from a nasal swab taken from a horse with serous nasal discharge. Initial isolation was achieved in cycloheximide-treated McCoy cell monolayers. Chlamydial inclusions stained by immunofluorescence either with a rabbit antiserum raised against C. psittaci or with a monoclonal antibody directed against the genus-specific lipopolysaccharide antigen were single and compact. They did not stain with iodine or with a monoclonal antibody reactive against Chlamydia trachomatis. The agent was re-isolated in the yolk sacs of embryonated hens eggs and designated N16. Identification of the agent was confirmed by electron microscopy. Unique plasmid DNA was prepared from a purified suspension of chlamydial elementary bodies (EBs), and analysed by electrophoresis through 1.0% agarose gels stained by ethidium bromide. This strain of C. psittaci grew relatively slowly in cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells, and the yield of elementary bodies during the course of one growth cycle was relatively low.     

A possibility of application of the 105-kilodaltons protein of Brachyspira alvinipulli cross-reacting with antisera to five species in the genus Brachyspira to diagnosis

The antigenic properties of Brachyspira (B.) alvinipulli ATCC 51933 and strain C2 were analyzed and compared with those of B. hyodysenteriae ATCC 27164 and ATCC 31212, B. pilosicoli ATCC 51139, B. innocens ATCC 29796 and B. aalborgi NCTC 11492. In gel immunodiffusion tests, a protein in B. alvinipulli ATCC 51933 reacted strongly with anti-B. alvinipulli ATCC 51933-serum and formed two precipitin lines. Furthermore, by an immunoblotting technique, the 105-kilodaltons (kDa) protein in B. alvinipulli ATCC 51933 reacted strongly with each of the antisera to B. hyodysenteriae, B. pilosicoli, B. innocens and B. aalborgi. Therefore, the 105-kDa protein could be applied to diagnosis of chicken infection by B. alvinipulli and B. pilosicoli. But the 105-kDa protein reacting with the anti-B. alvinipulli ATCC 51933-serum was not confirmed in B. hyodysenteriae, B. pilosicoli, B. innocens and B. aalborgi. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 105-kDa protein isolated from B. alvinipulli ATCC 51933 was Met-Lys-Lys-Met-Val-Tyr-Phe-Phe-Gly-Asn. The amino acid alignment of this protein possessed 50% homology with the periplasmic-iron-binding protein BitC in B. hyodysenteriae.     

Serological response to pgp3 protein in animal and human chlamydial infections

Specific antibodies to plasmid-encoded protein pgp3 are known to be encountered in human Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis infections. In order to verify whether antibodies to this protein could be developed in animals infected with plasmid-carrying chlamydial strains, 454 animal sera were examined using a home-made pgp3 protein ELISA and Western blots (WB) of recombinant pgp3 protein from Chlamydophila (Cp.) psittaci. Likewise, 50 human sera were tested by ELISA and WB of recombinant pgp3 from C. trachomatis. The reactivity against pgp3 protein was compared to the reactivity against chlamydial elementary bodies (EBs) detected by microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test. The presence of pgp3-specific antibodies was demonstrated in most ducks and pigeons with Cp. psittaci infection detected by MIF, as well as in the majority of symptomatic cats and pigs infected with Cp. felis and C. suis, respectively, which reacted at high titres to Cp. felis and C. suis EBs by MIF. Moreover, most of the sera collected from patients with C. trachomatis culture-confirmed infection and seropositive to C. trachomatis by MIF, presented antibodies specific to C. trachomatis pgp3 recombinant protein. Therefore, pgp3 protein could be a useful marker of chlamydial infections in animals, as well as in humans.     

A 39 kDa protein mediates adhesion of avian Pasteurella multocida to chicken embryo fibroblast cells

To clarify the role of avian Pasteurella multocida capsule in pathogenesis, adhesion of capsulated strains P-1059, X-73 and Pm-18, and noncapsulated strains P-1059B, Pm-1 and Pm-3 to chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells was compared. Number of adherent organisms of the capsulated strains to CEF cells were approximately three times as much as noncapsulated strains indicating that adhesive properties were enhanced by the presence of bacterial capsule. Pretreatments of the bacterial cells with heat, trypsin, or with antiserum caused a marked decrease in adhesion of capsulated strain P-1059 and its noncapsulated variant P-1059B. However, depolymerization of capsular hyaluronic acid with high dose of hyaluronidase enhanced adhesion of these strains. Combined treatments of the bacterial cells with both hyaluronidase and trypsin significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the adherence of strain P-1059 as compared to the treatment only with trypsin, but strain P-1059B was not affected. SDS-PAGE profiles of crude capsular extract (CCE) prepared from capsulated strain P-1059 and its noncapsulated variant P-1059B grown on dextrose starch agar (DSA) plates by heating at 56 degrees C in a 2.5% NaCl solution demonstrated eight protein bands of 28, 34, 36, 39, 52, 56, 63 and 93 kDa. The 28, 34 and 36 kDa proteins were commonly major for both strains, and the 39 kDa protein was major only for strain P-1059 but poor in strain P-1059B. Outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles were identical with a major protein at 34 kDa and four minor proteins between the two strains. The adhesion of strain P-1059 and strain P-1059B to CEF cells was inhibited significantly (P < 0.01) by treatment with rabbit antisera against P-1059, P-1059B, CCE or 39 kDa protein of strain P-1059 as compared to the treatment with either PBS or with normal rabbit serum. These results indicated that an antigenic 39 kDa protein in the capsule may be responsible for adhesion of avian P. multocida type A strains to CEF cells as a virulence factor.     

猪流产鹦鹉衣原体的抗原结构及抗原性和免疫原性分析

本试验用ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ技术对分离自青海、湖北、广西省流产猪的鹦鹉衣原体抗原结构进行分析，发现这些菌株的抗原结构图谱相似，即共同含有主外膜蛋白ＭＯＭＰ和其他一些主多肽。并以Ｄ１３株免疫兔子制备的抗血清作为探针，用免疫印迹试验检查其与各株鹦鹉衣原体抗原分子的反应关系。证实Ｄ１３株的主要抗原３８ＫＤ（ＭＯＭＰ）、６０ＫＤ、８０ＫＤ和１１０ＫＤ具有抗原性，它们可刺激机体产生抗体免疫应答。该抗血清不仅可与     

Characterization of swimming motility and identification of flagellar proteins in Salmonella pullorum isolates

OBJECTIVE: To identify swimming motility in Salmonella pullorum isolates and to characterize the flagellar proteins produced by motile isolates. SAMPLE POPULATION: 30 S pullorum isolates and isolates of 7 other Salmonella sp. PROCEDURE: Salmonella pullorum isolates were inoculated into high motility medium to evaluate swimming motility. Putative flagellar proteins were purified from the organisms and analyzed by means of gel electrophoresis and western blotting procedures, using various antisera specific for flagellar proteins. Antisera shown to be reactive with putative flagellar proteins were incorporated into the growth medium to examine their effects on motility of the isolates. RESULTS: All S pullorum isolates had evidence of swimming motility. Two putative flagellar proteins were purified from 2 of the S pullorum isolates: a 60 to 62 kd protein shown to react with antiserum specific for type y flagellar protein, and a 58 to 59 kd protein shown to react with antiserum specific for type d flagellar protein and with antibody reactive to a highly conserved flagellar epitope found on various Enterobacteriaceae. Antiserum specific for type d flagellar protein inhibited swimming motility of S pullorum isolates, but antiserum specific for type y flagellar protein did not. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that S pullorum isolates can be induced to manifest swimming motility when grown on medium with a low agar concentration and possess a 58 to 59 kd protein of d serotype and a second protein of 60 to 62 kd that also may be a flagellar protein.     

Immunological characterization of breakdown peptides of the 104 kilodalton hemolysin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1

The 104 kilodalton (kDa) hemolysin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1, strain CM-5 was precipitated from RPMI-1640 culture supernatant using ammonium sulfate to 80% saturation. In immunoblots, a rabbit polyclonal antiserum against the 104 kDa hemolysin protein, recognized not only the original 104 kDa monomeric form of the hemolysin but other proteins in the crude antigen mixture ranging in molecular mass from 43 to greater than 125 kDa. The antiserum was able to crosslink these proteins to active hemolysin in RPMI-1640 culture supernatant resulting in bands of hemolysis in blood agar used in a contact assay. Corresponding to these bands of hemolysis, denatured peptides with molecular masses of 51, 85, 104 and greater than 125 kDa were excised and injected into rabbits. In immunoblots, the resultant antibodies recognized the injected peptide and the monomeric 104 kDa protein. However, only the rabbit antisera produced against the 104 and 125 kDa proteins contained antibodies which neutralized the active 104 kDa hemolysin in culture supernatant. These results indicate that (i) the 104 kDa protein hemolysin can exist in a higher molecular weight aggregate (greater than 125 kDa) but can also break down to peptides which have molecular masses smaller than the 104 kDa parent molecule and (ii) while several epitopes are present in the hemolysin molecule, there seems to be a restricted number of antigenic determinants responsible for inducing neutralizing antibodies and these seem to reside only in the 104 kDa parent molecule. This may have consequences, in terms of vaccine development, for the control of pleuropneumonia in swine herds.     

Antibody recognition to secreted proteins of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in sera from infected ruminants

Two liquid culture media to obtain secreted proteins of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis at different incubation periods were evaluated. Middlebrook 7H9-OADC (7H9) and Watson-Reid (WR) broths were inoculated with a field strain of M. paratuberculosis and growth curves determined using nonlinear regression analysis. Most culture filtrate (CF) proteins were of low molecular weight and reacted strongly against sera from cultured-positive cases of paratuberculosis. CF proteins obtained in WR yielded a higher number of bands and were detected earlier than those obtained from 7H9. A high degree of variability in CF protein immunoreactivity was seen among infected animals. Sera from cattle with clinical paratuberculosis or heavy fecal shedders of M. paratuberculosis reacted more intensively and to more CF proteins than did sera from other infected cattle. Immunoblots showed differences in antibody binding to CF proteins when sera were absorbed with M. avium but not with others environmental mycobacteria. Immunoblots with sera from infected goats and a sheep showed reactivity with proteins of 32, 33 and 46 kDa both before and after the sera were absorbed with M. phlei. Antibodies found in serum of infected deer reacted with CF proteins in a similar way as did for cattle. These results suggest that a pool of CF proteins of M. paratuberculosis could be good candidates as antigens for serodiagnosis of paratuberculosis.     

Electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic analysis of feline serum proteins.

Serum from 28 clinically healthy cats was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and the migration distance relative to albumin was determined. The reference values for the relative and absolute concentrations of each protein fraction were determined and compared to previous reports. The immunoelectrophoretic, crossed immunoelectrophoretic and crossed line immunoelectrophoretic pattern, of a pooled sample of serum from clinically normal cats was determined. The cross-reactivity between goat and/or rabbit monospecific antisera to human proteins and feline serum was determined using immunoelectrophoresis and crossed-line absorption immunoelectrophoresis. Feline alpha-2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, B1C-globulin, IgG, albumin and ceruloplasmin cross reacted strongly with the monospecific antisera. Alpha-2-macroglobulin migrated anodal to haptoglobin. Lipoproteins and ceruloplasmin were studied using staining procedures described in man. Feline transferrin was precipitated with Rivanol.     

Comparative antigenic analysis of extracellular proteins of Bacteroides nodosus isolated from virulent and benign ovine footrot

Antigens in the extracellular protein (ECP) complexes of Bacteroides nodosus, isolated from sheep with either benign or virulent footrot, were studied by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP). Rabbit antisera against ECP from virulent and benign strains, were used in homologous and heterologous crossed IEP. Four precipitin peaks unique to the virulent strain, and five peaks unique to the benign strain were identified. In an attempt to characterize the different antigens in ECP, rabbit antisera were raised against an outer membrane protein (OMP, mol. wt. 35 000 daltons), pili and various proteases of virulent and benign strains of B. nodosus. No precipitin band was observed when ECP from both B. nodosus strains were reacted against anti-OMP and anti-pilus antisera. However, single precipitin bands unique to one protease from the benign strain and one protease from the virulent strain were identified. The results suggest that specific antigens other than proteases or pili are important in determining whether a B. nodosus isolate is virulent or benign.     

Immunoblotting study of the antigenic relationships among eight serogroups of Leptospira.

Seven strains of Leptospira interrogans belonging to seven different serogroups, and one strain of Leptospira biflexa were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with gradient gels and immunoblotting with hyperimmune rabbit sera raised against each strain. The molecular masses of the proteins were calculated with a polynomial regression model. The SDS-PAGE patterns of the L. interrogans strains were similar and characterized by 24 common bands. This profile was not found for L. biflexa. The immunoblots obtained either with the seven anti-L. interrogans sera or the anti-L. biflexa serum allowed a clear distinction between the two species. Taken as a whole, the L. interrogans strain patterns revealed by the seven anti-L. interrogans sera were similar, sharing eight common major bands. A serovar- or serogroup-specific antigenic zone, ranging from 21 to 26 kDa, was also identified.     

Co-migrating and shared antigens of selectedPasteurella haemolytica untypable strains

Bacterial cell envelope preparations from eight untypable strains ofPasteurella haemolytica were compared by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with rabbit antisera prepared against the eight untypable strains (one untypable strain per rabbit) and with cattle antisera prepared againstP. haemolytica serotypes 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and against one heterologous untypable strain. Numerous comigrating and shared antigens were recognized by the eight rabbit antisera and theP. haemolytica serotype cattle antisera. Comigrating antigens at 43 and 30 kilodaltons (kDa) were recognized by all eight rabbit antisera. Shared antigens, detected by all eight rabbit antisera when reacting againstP. haemolytica serotype 1, were recognized at 43, 32, 30, 20 and 15 kDa.     

Evaluation of a monoclonal antibody based ELISA for detection of feline Chlamydia psittaci

A commercially available ELISA designed for the detection of C trachomatis in human urogenital specimens was compared with cell culture for the detection of Chlamydia psittaci in cat conjunctival swabs and in twofold dilutions of a cell culture pool of a feline strain of C psittaci. Cell culture was more sensitive than the ELISA test for detection of C psittaci.     

Pathogenicity of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli that do not express K88, K99, F41, or 987P adhesins.

Three-week-old weaned and colostrum-deprived neonatal (less than 1 day old) pigs were inoculated to determine the pathogenicity of 2 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolates that do not express K88, K99, F41, or 987P adhesins (strains 2134 and 2171). Strains 2134 and 2171 were isolated from pigs that had diarrhea after weaning attributable to enterotoxigenic E coli infection. We found that both strains of E coli adhered in the ileum and caused diarrhea in pigs of both age groups. In control experiments, adherent bacteria were not seen in the ileum of pigs less than 1 day old or 3 weeks old that were noninoculated or inoculated with a nonpathogenic strain of E coli. These control pigs did not develop diarrhea. Antisera raised against strains 2134 and 2171 and absorbed with the autologous strain, grown at 18 C, were used for bacterial-agglutination and colony-immunoblot assays. Both absorbed antisera reacted with strains 2134 and 2171, but not with strains that express K99, F41, or 987P adhesins. A cross-reaction was observed with 2 wild-type K88 strains, but not with a K12 strain that expresses K88 pili. Indirect immunofluorescence with these absorbed antisera revealed adherent bacteria in frozen sections of ileum from pigs infected with either strain. We concluded that these strains are pathogenic and express a common surface antigen that may be a novel adhesin in E coli strains that cause diarrhea in weaned pigs.