IDENTIFICATION AND LOCALIZATION OF A 94 KDA MEMBRANE-PROTEIN FOUND INMYCOPLASMA-BOVOCULI STRAINS

Six isolates of Mycoplasma bovoculi obtained from cattle herds with bo vine keratoconjunctivitis were analyzed by gel electrophoresis and imm unoblotting techniques. All six strains showed similarity in their pro tein profiles although no two patterns were identical. Antigenic diffe rences between strains were detected in immunoblots reacted with post- exposure calf serum. A common 94 kDa protein band designated p94 was d etected in all six strains reacted with monoclonal antibody MA25.5 dev eloped to one of the strains. The p94 was also recognized in these str ains by the calf serum. Trypsin treatment of intact mycoplasma cells r esulted in the removal of p94 from immunoblots reacted with MA or hype rimmune rabbit serum. Other trypsin-resistant antigens shared between strains or being strain-specific in nature were identified when trypsi n-treated mycoplasma cells were reacted with hyperimmune rabbit serum. The p94 antigen was shown to be of mycoplasmal origin by radio-immuno precipitation using the MA or hyperimmune rabbit serum. These studies identify the presence of a surface antigen (p94) on M. bovoculi membra ne in all strains examined that is trypsin sensitive by the use of mon oclonal antibody, calf serum and hyperimmune rabbit serum. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.