A variable-length PCR target protein of Ehrlichia chaffeensis contains major species-specific antibody epitopes in acidic serine-rich tandem repeats.

ABSTRACT: Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. canis have a small subset of tandem repeat (TR)-containing proteins that elicit strong host immune responses and are associated with host-pathogen interactions. In a previous study, we molecularly characterized a highly conserved 19-kDa major immunoreactive protein (gp19) of E. canis and identified the corresponding TR-containing ortholog variable-length PCR target (VLPT) protein in E. chaffeensis. In this study, the native 32-kDa VLPT protein was identified and the immunodeterminants defined in order to further understand the molecular basis of the host immune response to E. chaffeensis. Synthetic and/or recombinant polypeptides corresponding to various regions of VLPT were used to localize major antibody epitopes to the TR-containing region. Major antibody ep

SUBMITTER: Luo T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2292866 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature