Open AccessVariable sequences in a mosaic‐like domain of meningococcal tbp2 encode immunoreactive epitopes
Author(s) -
Rokbi B.,
MaitreWilmotte G.,
Mazarin V.,
Fourrichon L.,
Lissolo L.,
QuentinMillet M.J.
Publication year - 1995
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.1574-6968.1995.tb07846.x
Subject(s) - biology , neisseria meningitidis , epitope , genetics , transferrin , polyclonal antibodies , neisseria , antigenic variation , gene , nucleic acid sequence , peptide sequence , hypervariable region , antigen , biochemistry , bacteria
Transferrin‐binding proteins from Neisseria meningitidis vary among different isolates. We have identified and studied a hypervariable region adjacent to the carboxyl‐end of the transferrin‐binding domain of the Tbp2 molecule. The tbp2 genes from six strains of N. meningitidis were cloned and sequenced in this particular region. Sequence analysis of these regions along with five other sequences available from pathogenic Neisseria showed a common organisation of seven highly variable nucleotide stretches interspersed with six conserved nucleotide stretches. The variable regions correlated with the location of immunoreactive epitopes in polyclonal antisera raised to transferrin‐binding proteins identified by peptide pin technology. Sequence analysis suggested a mosaic‐like organisation of the tbp2 genes. Taken together, these data suggest that the antigenic variation in this part of the protein may result from a strong host immune pressure.