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Infection and Immunity, June 2003, p. 3240-3250, Vol. 71, No. 6
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.6.3240-3250.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Antigenic Organization of the N-Terminal Part of the Polymorphic Outer Membrane Proteins 90, 91A, and 91B of Chlamydophila abortus

Evangelia Vretou,^1* Panagiota Giannikopoulou,¹ David Longbottom,² and Evgenia Psarrou¹

Laboratory of Biotechnology, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens 115 21, Greece,¹ Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Penicuik EH26 OPZ, United Kingdom²

Received 18 December 2002/ Returned for modification 3 February 2003/ Accepted 4 March 2003

A series of overlapping recombinant antigens, 61 to 74 residues in length, representing polymorphic outer membrane protein 90 (POMP90) of Chlamydophila abortus and two recombinant peptides spanning gene fragment p91Bf99 of POMP91B were assessed by immunoblotting to determine the antigen-binding sites of 20 monoclonal antibodies to POMP90, -91A, and -91B. The epitopes were further restricted by scanning 52 overlapping synthetic 12-mer peptides representing the N-terminal part of POMP90, and the 12-mer epitopes were then analyzed by using hexapeptides to the resolution of a single amino acid. Ten epitopes were defined: 1, TSEEFQVKETSSGT; 2, SGAIYTCEGNVCISYAGKDSPL; 3, SLVFHKNCSTAE; 4, AIYADKLTIVSGGPTLFS; 5, SPKGGAISIKDS; 6, ITFDGNKIIKTS; 7, LRAKDGFGIFFY; 7a, DGFGIF; 7b, GIFFYD; 8, IFFYDPITGGGS; 8a, FFYDPIT; 9, GKIVFSGE; and 10, DLGTTL. The 20-mer peptide LRAKDGFGIFFYDPITGGGS was a major epitope that was recognized by seven antibodies. Epitopes 7 to 10 were conserved in reference strains of the former species C. psittaci, whereas the strong antigenic peptides FYDPIT and IVFSGE were conserved among members of the genus Chlamydophila. Epitopes 3 to 8 were located within the best-scoring beta-helical wrap (residues 148 to 293) predicted for POMP91B by the program BETAWRAP. Other studies have suggested an association of the POMPs with type V secretory autotransporter proteins. The results presented in this study provide some evidence for a passenger domain that is folded as a beta-helix pyramid with compact antigenic organization.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Vassilissis Sofias 127, 115 21 Athens, Greece. Phone and Fax: 301 64 78 873-4. E-mail: vretou{at}mail.pasteur.gr.

Editor: F. C. Fang

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Infection and Immunity, June 2003, p. 3240-3250, Vol. 71, No. 6
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.6.3240-3250.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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