Purification and characterization of a 36 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium leprae |
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| Authors: | M Y de Wit P R Klatser |
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| Institution: | N. H. Swellengrebel Laboratory of Tropical Hygiene, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
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| Abstract: | A 36 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium leprae was purified by phenol biphasic partition followed by preparative SDS-PAGE. The purified antigen appeared as a single band in SDS-PAGE and eluted as a single peak in ion-exchange chromatography. The antigen comprised epitopes which were cross-reactive with M. tuberculosis, as well as a species-specific epitope (recognized by MAb F47-9). Different treatments of the 36 kDa antigen suggested it to be largely protein in nature; the amino acid composition of 81% of the antigen was determined. A majority of sera from leprosy patients contained antibodies recognizing the 36 kDa antigen. |
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