Reacquisition of Specific Proteins Confers Virulence in Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Abstract
Hemadsorbing revertants were isolated from spontaneous hemadsorption-negative, avirulent mutants of M. pneumoniae. The revertants simultaneously reacquired specific proteins absent in their homologous mutants, along with neuraminidase-sensitive adherence to the hamster respiratory epithelium and virulence. Peptide mapping and immunological analysis indicated no precursor-product relationships among certain of these proteins.