The antigenic specificity of the humoral immune response to primary and repeated ocular infections of the guinea pig with the GPIC agent (Chlamydia psittaci).

The antigenic specificity of the humoral immune response in guinea pigs to primary and repeated ocular infections with the guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC) chlamydial agent was analysed using microbiological, serological and Western blotting techniques. The results indicate that although there was a response to many minor polypeptide antigens, there was a marked lack of reactivity to the major outer membrane protein (MOMP), particularly following reinfection of guinea pigs. It is suggested that, lack of a good antibody response to the MOMP, may be one of the reasons why guinea pigs are susceptible to repeated ocular infections with this chlamydial agent.