IMMUNE RESPONSES TO THE MSP HOMOLOGUES IN SYPHILIS

一个新的12元，多态性基因家族最近被确定在梅毒螺旋体，梅毒的病原体。所编码的蛋白质与T.齿垢，其特征在于可变和保守的结构域。我们的初步研究表明，msp同源物作为调理素抗体的目标，并诱导显着的免疫保护，与表面暴露一致。该项目的总体目标是确定梅毒期间对msp同源物的免疫应答的性质和功能，并检查免疫在调节msp同源物表达中的作用。本研究的主要目的是：1）明确T.苍白球，以确定MSP特异性是否随时间被识别，提示抗原变异。2）。确定针对T的MSP同源物可变区和恒定区的抗体的功能。苍白球、尼科尔斯菌株在调理作用、中和和固定方面的作用。3.）第三章确定msp同源物在T.苍白球感染人群。4.）研究免疫应答调节T.苍白球，以确定免疫在MSP同源物表达中的作用。这些研究将为T.苍白球引起疾病的多个阶段，并在宿主体内持续数十年。

A new 12-membered, polymorphic gene family has recently been identified in Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. The encoded proteins have predicted homology to the major sheath protein (msp) of T. denticola, and are characterized by variable and conserved domains. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that the msp-homologues serve as targets of opsonic antibody and induce significant immune protection, consistent with surface exposure. The overall goal of this project is to determine the nature and function of the immune response to the msp-homologues during syphilis and to examine the role of immunity in modulating msp-homologue expression. The following aims are proposed: 1) Define the humoral and cellular immune responses to individual msp variable and conserved domains during infection with T. pallidum to determine whether msp specificities are recognized over time, suggesting antigenic variation. 2). Determine the function of antibodies directed against the msp-homologue variable and constant regions of T. pallidum, Nichols strain in terms of opsonization, neutralization and immobilization. 3.) Determine the diversity of msp- homologue expression in T. pallidum-infected population. 4.) Investigate the ability of the immune response to modulate the expression of individual msp-homologues in T. pallidum to determine the role of role of immunity in msp-homologue expression. These studies will provide significant insights into the mechanisms by which T. pallidum causes multiple stages of disease and persists in the host for decades.