ANTIGENIC PROFILES FOR THE DIFFERENTIATION OF MOBILUNCUS-CURTISII ANDMOBILUNCUS-MULIERIS BY IMMUNOBLOTTING TECHNIQUE

The antigenic profile of 30 vaginal isolates of Mobiluncus strains (22 M. curtisii and 8 M. mulieris) was determined by immunoblotting techn ique using mouse immune ascitic fluids containing polyclonal antibodie s against the type strains M. curtisii subsp. holmesii (ATCC 35242) an d M. mulieris (ATCC 35243). Two antigenic profiles were identified wit hin M. curtisii isolates, whereas a certain variability was observed a mong M. mulieris strains where at least three antigens were constantly recognized. The detection of antigenic profiles of Mobiluncus strains by immunoblotting technique provided a simple method to identify Mobi luncus isolates at the species level.