Biomaterial Database

Immunological cross-reaction between antigen Tp-4 of Treponema pallidum and an antigen common to a wide range of bacteria. 1984

P Hindersson, and C S Petersen, and N S Pedersen, and N Høiby, and N H Axelsen

By electro-immunoprecipitation methods it was shown that antigen Tp-4 of Treponema pallidum, antigen TR-c of the Reiter treponeme and 'Common Antigen' of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are immunologically cross-reactive. This finding establishes a taxonomic relationship between T. pallidum and a wide range of bacteria. The cross-reactivity explains some false positive reactions in serodiagnostic treponemal tests for syphilis. The cross-reactivity may also play a role in a possible 'normal' immunity against infection with T. pallidum induced by antigens by the normal human bacterial flora.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007122	Immunoelectrophoresis	A technique that combines protein electrophoresis and double immunodiffusion. In this procedure proteins are first separated by gel electrophoresis (usually agarose), then made visible by immunodiffusion of specific antibodies. A distinct elliptical precipitin arc results for each protein detectable by the antisera.
D003429	Cross Reactions	Serological reactions in which an antiserum against one antigen reacts with a non-identical but closely related antigen.	Cross Reaction,Reaction, Cross,Reactions, Cross
D000939	Epitopes	Sites on an antigen that interact with specific antibodies.	Antigenic Determinant,Antigenic Determinants,Antigenic Specificity,Epitope,Determinant, Antigenic,Determinants, Antigenic,Specificity, Antigenic
D000942	Antigens, Bacterial	Substances elaborated by bacteria that have antigenic activity.	Bacterial Antigen,Bacterial Antigens,Antigen, Bacterial
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D014210	Treponema pallidum	The causative agent of venereal and non-venereal syphilis as well as yaws.