e x p e r i m e n t a l w o r k s e x p e r i m e n t a l w o r k s UDC 573.6.083.3+573.6.086.8 CharaCteristiCs of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for deteCtion of igg antibodies speCifiC to Сhlamydia trachomatis heat shoCk protein (hsp-60) O. Yu. GalkIN, a. B. BeSaraB, T. N. lUTSeNkO National
registered). In 4 out of 15 intralaboratory panel serum samples initially identified as nega tive, anti-HSP-60 IgG-antibodies test result in reference ELISA sets upon dilution changed from negative to positive. The nature of titration curves of false negative sera and commercial monoclonal antibodies А57-В9 against C. trachomatis HSP-60 after incubation for 24 h was indicative of the presence of anti-idiotypic antibodies in these samples. Upon sera dilution, idiotypic-anti-idiotypic complexes dissociated, which caused the change of test result. High informative value of the developed ELISA set for identification of IgG antibodies against C. trachomatis HSP-60 has been proven. Anti-idiotypic antibodies possessing C. trachomatis anti-HSP-60 activity and being one of the causes of false negative results of the relevant elISa-based tests have been identified in blood sera of individuals infected with chlamydial genitourinary infection agents. K e y w o r d s: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Chlamydia trachomatis, heat shock protein, anti-idiotypic antibodies, sensitivity, specificity.C hlamydial genitourinary infection (GUI) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. According to World Health Organization, Chlamydia trachomatis infects about 90 million people each year by sexual transmission. In Ukraine, the rate of chlamydial GUI is 80 cases per 100,000 population. Nearly 16% of pregnant women are infected with C. trachomatis. About 50-60% of tubular infertility cases are caused by chlamydial infection. A quarter of all ophthalmic and respiratory diseases in newborn and younger children are associated with chlamydial infection [1,2].Effective diagnosis is one of important components of chlamydial GUI control, which can be realized through both direct (detection of antigens, nucleic acids, pathogenic agent microscopic examination and cultivation) and indirect (specific antibo dies detection) techniques. One of the commonly used methods in diagnostics is enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that allows differential diagnosis -determination of disease stage and course, which is especially important in chronic conditions. For that purpose blood serum (plasma) and human biological fluids are tested for the presence of IgM, IgA and IgG classes of specific antibodies to pathogen's antigens [2,3].Prolonged persistency of C. trachomatis increases the expression of heat shock protein with molecular mass 60 kDa (HSP-60), which is highly