Demonstration of multiple antigenic determinants on Mycoplasma pneumoniae attachment protein by monoclonal antibodies.

Distinct multiple antigenic determinants of the attachment protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae have been identified by limited proteolytic cleavage, using specific monoclonal antibodies. Western blots prepared from the gels containing the cleaved fragments were probed with antiserum against M. pneumoniae or monoclonal antibodies. Five distinct bands with intact antigenic determinants were detected by the antiserum, of which two bands were each reactable with two monoclonal antibodies. A sequential binding assay suggested that these monoclonal antibodies recognized different antigenic sites of each band. These results demonstrate the existence of multiple antigenic sites on the attachment protein and describe procedures that should prove useful for identifying those antigenic sites critical to the specific attachment of M. pneumoniae.