Extensive cross reactivity between Treponema pallidum and cultivable treponemes demonstrated by sequential immunoadsorption.

Extensive cross reactivity between Treponema pallidum and three nonpathogenic species of treponemes was demonstrated by the Western blot technique. Rabbit antiserum produced by adjuvant immunization with solubilized T. pallidum antigens reacted with 34 T. pallidum antigens and with approximately 30 antigens each of T. phagedenis biotype Reiter, T. noguchii and T. vincentii. Adsorption of the antiserum with T. phagedenis Reiter removed only about half of the cross-reacting antibodies. Sequential adsorption with all three nonpathogenic treponemes removed antibodies to all but three polypeptides of 36,000, 34,000 and 27,000 daltons.