No abstract

Extensive cross reactivity between Treponema pallidum and three nonpathogenic species of treponemes was demonstrated by the Western blot technique. Rabbit antiserum produced by adjuvant immunization with solubilized T. pallidum antigens reacted with 34 T. pallidum antigens and with approximately 30 antigens each of T. phagedenis biotype Reiter, T. noguchii and T. vincentii. Adsorption of the antiserum with T. phagedenis Reiter removed only about half of the cross-reacting antibodies. Sequential adsorption with all three nonpathogenic treponemes removed antibodies to all but three polypeptides of 36,000, 34,000 and 27,000 daltons.

A sandwich immunoassay has been developed for the detection of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a major cell wall constituent of gram-positive bacteria, from whole blood and ISOLATOR supernate. Monoclonal antibodies were produced to purified LTA from Streptococcus mutans, BHT and were further characterized for crossreactivity with gram-positive and negative bacteria and for reactivity to substituted and unsubstituted LTA. Eight monoclonal antibodies were identified that reacted exclusively with gram-positive bacteria. Those antibodies able to capture 3H-LTA were chosen to develop a sandwich immunoassay. The assay has a sensitivity of 0.2 ng LTA/mL in PBS, 0.5 ng/mL in whole blood and 2.0 ng/mL in whole blood that has been processed through the ISOLATOR. Further development of this assay may lead to the rapid detection of LTA from body fluids.