| abstract |
Purified antigenic surface proteins of Anaplasma marginale have been identified, and are capable of inducing immune responses in ruminants which neutralizes virulent Anaplasma marginale. The antigenic surface proteins have one or more components having electrophoretic mobilities corresponding to a molecular weight of about 15,000 daltons, 86,000 daltons, 61,000 daltons, 36,000 daltons, 31,000 daltons, or 15,000 daltons, and can be purified by an immunoaffinity chromatography process comprising the steps of disrupting Anaplasma marginale initial bodies by treatment with a detergent, passing the disrupted initial bodies over a chromatography column comprising an insoluble matrix coupled to monoclonal antibodies against a determinant on said antigenic surface protein to selectively bind said antigenic surface protein to said monoclonal antibodies and recovering the bound substantially pure antigenic surface protein from said insoluble matrix. The antigens have further utility in diagnostic tests for anaplasmosis. They can be synthesized by polypeptide procedures or by genetic engineering. DNA and amino acid sequences have been developed for at least some of the antigens according to this invention. The antigens may be useful for rickettsial organisms other than Anaplasma marginale. |