This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bachrach, G Articles by Bercovier, H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bachrach, G Articles by Bercovier, H

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infection and Immunity, December 1994, p. 5361-5366, Vol. 62, No. 12
0019-9567/1994/$04.00+0     DOI:

research-article

Brucella ribosomal protein L7/L12 is a major component in the antigenicity of brucellin INRA for delayed-type hypersensitivity in brucella-sensitized guinea pigs.

Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.

ABSTRACT

A delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in the course of brucellosis in humans and animals can be revealed by the brucellin INRA (Brucellergen) skin test. Brucellergen is composed of more than 20 proteins of different molecular weights. A 12-kDa protein eliciting DTH in Brucella melitensis Rev1-sensitized guinea pigs was found to be a significant component for the allergenic properties of Brucellergen. Sequencing of the gene encoding this protein identified it as the L7/L12 ribosomal protein. The L7/L12 gene of B. melitensis was amplified by PCR and subcloned in the Escherichia coli pQE30 plasmid. The resulting recombinant protein did not produce a DTH reaction in sensitized animals. It was used to raise specific antibodies in a rabbit. Affinity chromatography with these antibodies was used to isolate a single protein from Brucellergen and from B. melitensis cytosol preparations which produced a DTH reaction in guinea pigs sensitized with B. melitensis Rev1. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the protein confirmed that it was the L7/L12 ribosomal protein. This is the first complete report on the involvement of a defined bacterial ribosomal protein in the DTH response of animals infected with intracellularly multiplying bacteria.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bachrach, G., Chaushu, G., Zigmond, M., Yefenof, E., Stabholz, A., Shapira, J., Merrick, J., Chaushu, S. (2006). Salivary LL-37 Secretion in Individuals with Down Syndrome is Normal.. J. Dent. Res. 85: 933-936 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hovav, A.-H., Mullerad, J., Davidovitch, L., Fishman, Y., Bigi, F., Cataldi, A., Bercovier, H. (2003). The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Recombinant 27-Kilodalton Lipoprotein Induces a Strong Th1-Type Immune Response Deleterious to Protection. Infect. Immun. 71: 3146-3154 [Abstract] [Full Text]