Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of immunoglobuling reactive with a recombinant protein expressed from the gene encoding the116-kilodalton protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Serology remains the method of choice for laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasm a pneumoniae infection. Currently available serological tests employ comple x cellular fractions of Bt pneumoniae as antigen. To improve the specificit y of M. pneumoniae diagnosis, a recombinant protein was assessed as a serod iagnostic reagent. A panel of recombinant proteins were expressed from a cl oned M. pneumoniae gene that encodes a 116-kDa surface protein antigen. The recombinant proteins were assessed for reactivity with patient sera and th e most antigenic was further assessed for its serodiagnostic potential by i ndirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA based on the r ecombinant protein was equivalent in sensitivity to the commercial test (Se rodia Myco II; Fujirebio Inc.) to which it was compared, Southern and Weste rn blotting data suggested that the recombinant protein derived from the 11 6-kDa protein of M. pneumoniae could provide a species-specific diagnostic tool, although further assessment is required.