RESUMO
About twenty distinct antigenic components have been demonstrated in Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) by crossed immunoelectrophoresis against a rabbit antiserum produced by immunization with concentrated M. leprae antigen. This system allows a more detailed analysis of the antigenic relationship between M. leprae and other mycobacteria and a better characterization of the antigenic content of various M leprae preparations than with previously available anstisera of the antigenic content of various M. leprae preparations than with previously available antisera which reacted with far fewer components. The antibody activity in sera of patients with lepromatous leprosy was studied by incorporating the sera into the intermediate gel of the M. leprae reference system. Antibodies were found against only seven of the components. Since those compared are all known to be cross-reacting widely with antigens of other mycobacteria, it is speculated that cross-immunization may influence the antibody response in lepromatous leprosy.
Assuntos
Animais , Coelhos , Anticorpos Antibacterianos , Antígenos de Bactérias/análise , Fragmentos de Imunoglobulinas , Imunoeletroforese Bidimensional , Mycobacterium leprae/imunologia , SorotipagemRESUMO
Sera from C3H and C57BL mice infected with Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) and from human leprosy patients were examined for antibodies against MLM by a crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) technique. Altogether antibodies against six or seven MLM antigens were found in the mouse sera. After a small inoculum of MLM, C3H mice produced more antibodies than C57BL mice. After a large inoculum both strains produced about the same amount of antibodies but showed qualitative differences in their response patterns. A serum pool from patients with lepromatous leprosy contained antibodies against six MLM antigens; five of these were identical with the antigens against which antibodies were found in infected mice. C57BL mice that had lost their delayed-type hypersensitivity to MLM during the course of a disseminated infection showed a fairly strong antibody response to three antigens and a weak response to three others. Since almost the same spectrum of antibodies, although in lower titres, could be demonstrated in C57BL mice with intact delayed-type hypersensitivity to the bacilli, these antibodies did not seem to interfere with the expression of cell-mediated immunity.