Korean J Dermatol.
1988 Dec;26(6):812-821.
Protein Antigens of Trepanema pallidum Reacting with Serum IgG Antibodies of syphilis Patients
Abstract
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This study was conducted to identify the protein antigens reacting with IgG antibodies in the sera of variaus stages of syphilis before treatment, the antigens common to both Treponema pallidum and Treponema phagedenis, and the antigens specific only to T. pzllidum, employing sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS PAGE) and immunoblotting. Before treatment, the most strongly reacting antigens of T. pallidum precipitated by IgG antibodies in the sera of patients were polypeptides of molecular weights 47, 000, 36,500, 15,500 and 14,000. Eleven antigens common to both T. palbdum and T. phagedenis were observed, and antigens of molecular weights 86,500, 68,500,15,500 and 14,000 showed to be specific only to T. pallidum. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that of the major antigens of T. pallidum, the antigens of molecular weights 15,500 and 14,000 could serve to develop newer serologic tests for syphilis.