Open AccessIdentification and characterization of a cross‐reactive and a unique B‐cell epitope on the hsp60 homologue from Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Author(s) -
Pannekoek Yvonne,
Dankert Jacob,
Putten Jos P.M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1992.tb05536.x
Subject(s) - epitope , neisseria gonorrhoeae , neisseria , hsp60 , biology , antigen , microbiology and biotechnology , monoclonal antibody , heat shock protein , neisseriaceae , antibody , epitope mapping , virology , bacteria , genetics , hsp70 , gene , antibiotics
Two monoclonal antibodies (G6 and 7B), generated against a 63‐kDa stress protein (GSP63) from Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain VP1, were used to investigate the antigenic heterogeneity of GSP63 among the Neisseriaceae and its antigenic relationship with the Hsp60 heat‐shock protein family. Immunoblotting experiments demonstrated antibody reactivity with all pathogenic Neisseria tested and with some of the commensal strains. One of the antibodies (7B) cross‐reacted with the 65‐kDa M. bovis BCG heat‐shock protein and with 14 out of the 21 similarly sized proteins in other bacterial species. The other antibody (G6) specifically recognized neisserial GSP63 homologues. These results demonstrate that GSP63 is a conserved neisserial antigen bearing both a unique neisserial B‐cell epitope and a more widely distributed Hsp60 epitope.