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Title: Dissecting the antigenic mosaic of the Archaebacterium Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum by monoclonal antibodies of defined molecular specificity

Journal Article · · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

The antigenic mosaic of the Archaebacterium Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, strain ..delta..H, was analyzed with a panel of six monoclonal antibodies. Five antigenic determinants were identified. One contains N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, another contains N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and a third contains ..gamma..-glutamylalanine (..gamma..-Glu-Ala). These residues are not involved, at least as immunodominant epitopes, in the other two determinants, one of which contains L-talosaminuronic acid, a component of pseudomurein found only in Methanobacteriaceae. Each of the five determinants was recognized by one monoclonal antibody exclusively. A sixth antibody recognized a structure containing ..gamma..-Glu-Ala that could be either a sixth determinant or a subdeterminant within the site already recognized as containing ..gamma..-Glu-Ala. It is postulated that two of the determinants are strain specific, three are species specific, and one is a common antigen.

Research Organization:
New York State Dept. of Health, Albany
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-81ER10880
OSTI ID:
6180686
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Vol. 80
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English