Opsonization of Treponema pallidum is mediated by immunoglobulin G antibodies induced only by pathogenic treponemes

J M Shaffer; S A Baker-Zander; S A Lukehart

doi:10.1128/iai.61.2.781-784.1993

Opsonization of Treponema pallidum is mediated by immunoglobulin G antibodies induced only by pathogenic treponemes

Infect Immun. 1993 Feb;61(2):781-4. doi: 10.1128/iai.61.2.781-784.1993.

Authors

J M Shaffer¹, S A Baker-Zander, S A Lukehart

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.

Abstract

Rabbit antisera to Leptospira interrogans, Borrelia hermsii, and Treponema phagedenis biotype Reiter, reactive to shared spirochetal antigens, failed to enhance phagocytosis of Treponema pallidum by macrophages, while immunoglobulin G to Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue and Treponema paraluiscuniculi promoted phagocytosis. Opsonic antibodies are directed to pathogen-restricted, not shared spirochetal, antigens.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology*
Immune Sera / immunology
Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
Phagocytosis*
Rabbits
Treponema pallidum / immunology*

Substances

Antibodies, Bacterial
Immune Sera
Immunoglobulin G

Grants and funding

AI 18988/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States