Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae adhesin (P1) in the nonhemadsorbing population of virulent Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Abstract
M. pneumoniae organisms possessing a hemadsorbing-negative (HA-) phenotype comprise > 50% of the population of virulent M. pneumoniae cultures. Monoclonal antibody to P1, the major adhesin of M. pneumoniae, reacts with this HA- mycoplasma fraction based on radioimmunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Demonstration of P1 in the entire mycoplasma population suggests that topological organization of this adhesin in the membrane or the physiological state of the mycoplasmas may determine hemadsorbing capabilities.