IMMUNOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE ANTIGENS BY THE SDS-POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS IMMUNOPEROXIDASE TECHNIQUE (SGIP) USING PATIENTS SERA

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (3) , 537-544
Abstract
The sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoperoxidase assay was used for characterizing the antigenic components of M. leprae using patients'' sera. This technique involved the separation of mycobacterial sonicates on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, longitudinal sectioning of the gels, incubation with patients'' sera and visualization of the antigen-antibody complexes by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. A number of antigens present in M. leprae sonicates were recognized by leprosy patients'' sera, some of which were seen in other mycobacteria as well. Antibody binding to a 33 kD [kilodalton] antigen, present in both M. leprae and BCG sonicates, was reduced only in the latter after 6 mo. of multiple drug treatment of 1 patient. Evidently, this a common mycobacterial antigen with .gtoreq. 1 M. leprae specific determinants. Several antigens were identified only in M. leprae sonicates, only by leprosy patients: a 12, 22, 28, 36, 41 and 86 kD component. These antigens lost their antigenicity after trypsin treatment, but were heat stable. Such M. leprae specifies antigens may be useful for immunodiagnosis.