Immunological markers of the R4 protein of Streptococcus agalactiae.

ABSTRACT: This study focuses on immunological markers of R4, an important Streptococcus group B (GBS) protein. The results obtained by using rabbit antisera and purified proteins for antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based experiments provided evidence that R4 possesses two antigenic determinants. One of the determinants is shared with the alpha-like protein 3 (Alp3) of GBS, was named R4/Alp3 common, and was expressed by GBS, which possessed the Alp3-encoding gene alp3 or the R4-encoding gene rib. The other antigenic determinant was detected only in rib-positive GBS organisms and was named R4 specific. This determinant probably is an immunological marker unique to the R4 protein. Neither of the antigenic R4 determinants showed serological cross-reactivity with the GBS proteins Calpha, Cb

SUBMITTER: Maeland JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1287756 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature