IMMUNE-RESPONSE OF CHIMPANZEES INFECTED WITH HUMAN MYCOPLASMAS

Seven chimpanzees were inoculated intra-articularly with one of three Mycoplasma species. Three chimpanzees were inoculated with clinical sy novial isolate 1620, and one was inoculated with type strain PG-21 of M. hominis. The fifth animal was inoculated with clinical synovial iso late 2010B, and the sixth was inoculated with the type strain CO of Ur eaplasma urealyticum. The seventh animal was inoculated with clinical isolate PI-1428 of M. pneumoniae. The synovial isolates induced intens e antibody responses, antibodies recognized more antigens, and the rea ctive antigens were distinct from the corresponding type strains. Chim panzees infected with synovial isolate 1620, but not type strain PG-21 , recognized antigens of molecular mass 223, 208, 168, 165, 155, 150, 142, 134, 115, 105, 52, 50, 45, 38, and 36 kDa. The chimpanzee infecte d with synovial isolate 2010B, but not type strain CO, recognized anti gens at about 277, 237, 62, 57, and 43 kDa. The major antibody reactiv e antigens of M. pneumoniae isolate PI-1428 migrated at about 170, 90, 56, 40, 32, and 30 kDa. The reported biologic activities of antigenic proteins derived from these Mycoplasma species are reviewed.