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Immune response of chimpanzees infected with human mycoplasmas
1Laboratory of Mycoplasma, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abstract:
Seven chimpanzees were inoculated intra-articularly with one of three Mycoplasma species. Three chimpanzees were inoculated with clinical synovial isolate 1620, and one was inoculated with type strain PG-21 of M. hominis. The fifth animal was inoculated with clinical synovial isolate 2010B, and the sixth was inoculated with the type strain CO of Ureaplasma urealyticum. The seventh animal was inoculated with clinical isolate PI-1428 of M. pneumoniae. The synovial isolates induced intense antibody responses, antibodies recognized more antigens, and the reactive antigens were distinct from the corresponding type strains. Chimpanzees infected with synovial isolate 1620, but not type strain PG-21, recognized antigens of molecular mass 223, 208, 168, 165, 155, 150, 142, 134, 115, 105, 52, 50, 45, 38, and 36 kDa. The chimpanzee infected with synovial isolate 2010B, but not type strain CO, recognized antigens at about 277, 237, 62, 57, and 43 kDa. The major antibody reactive antigens of M. pneumoniae isolate PI-1428 migrated at about 170, 90, 56, 40, 32, and 30 kDa. The reported biologic activities of antigenic proteins derived from these Mycoplasma species are reviewed.
Insights
Synovial isolates of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma induced strong antibody responses in chimpanzees. These antibodies recognized distinct antigens not found in type strains, suggesting unique antigenic profiles in clinical isolates.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Veterinary Science
Background:
- Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species are known to cause various infections, including arthritis.
- Understanding the antigenic properties of these pathogens is crucial for developing effective diagnostics and treatments.
- Chimpanzees serve as a relevant model for studying Mycoplasma-induced arthritis due to their physiological similarities to humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antibody responses and antigen recognition patterns in chimpanzees inoculated with different Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species.
- To compare the antigenic profiles of clinical synovial isolates with their corresponding type strains.
- To review the biological activities of antigenic proteins from these Mycoplasma species.
Main Methods:
- Intra-articular inoculation of seven chimpanzees with specific Mycoplasma (M. hominis, U. urealyticum, M. pneumoniae) and Ureaplasma isolates.
- Analysis of antibody responses and identification of recognized antigens using molecular mass.
- Review of existing literature on the biological activities of Mycoplasma antigenic proteins.
Main Results:
- Synovial isolates induced intense antibody responses, with antibodies recognizing a broader range of antigens compared to type strains.
- Specific molecular masses of recognized antigens were identified for M. hominis isolate 1620, U. urealyticum isolate 2010B, and M. pneumoniae isolate PI-1428.
- Distinct antigenic profiles were observed between clinical isolates and their respective type strains.
Conclusions:
- Clinical isolates of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma possess unique antigenic compositions that elicit distinct immune responses.
- The identified antigens represent potential targets for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against Mycoplasma-induced arthritis.
- Further research into the biological activities of these specific antigenic proteins is warranted.
