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US 4,427,782 AGranted
Isolation of principal outer membrane protein and antigen of Chlamydia trachomatis
OwnerHarlan D. Caldwell, Julius Schacterinventors
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OwnerHarlan D. Caldwell, Julius Schacterinventors
Estimating the term…
Procedures are presented for isolating the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis. The isolated protein is a species specific antigen which comprises about 60% of the C. trachomatis cell outer membrane structure. The protein has a molecular weight ranging from about 38,000 to 44,000 daltons, with a mean molecular weight of about 39,500 daltons. The protein antigen is purified from C. trachomatis cells by first extracting the cell contents with a mild anionic detergent, preferably sarcosyl, to leave a residue of intact outer cell membranes. These outer cell membranes are then extracted with a strong anionic detergent, preferably sodium dodecyl sulfate, which solubilizes the 39,500 dalton antigen. The antigen is then purified by hydroxlapatite chromatography. The antigen is species specific for Chlamydia trachomatis and may be utilized in assaying Chlamydial infection in mammals.
As a species specific antigen for Chlamydia trachomatis, the principal outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis micro-organisms having a molecular weight ranging from about 38,000 to 44,000 daltons.
A method for isolating a species specific protein antigen of Chlamydia trachomatis comprising separating the outer cell membrane material of Chlamydia trachomatis micro-organisms from the remainder of the cell contents, and then contacting said separated outer cell membrane material with a strongly anionic detergent to solubilize the protein antigen, and thereafter recovering the protein antigen from the detergent solution, and purifying the protein antigen.
A method for assaying the presence of Chlamydial infection in a mammal comprising generating antibodies against the principal outer membrane protein antigen of Chlamydia trachomatis which outer membrane protein has a mean molecular weight of about 39,500 daltons, securing a specimen from a mammal suspected of having a Chlamydia trachomatis infection, treating said specimen to solubilize any Chlamydia outer cell membrane protein having a molecular weight of about 39,500 daltons which may be present in said specimen, securing an amount of the generated antibodies, contacting the antibodies with said solubilized specimen, and determining any reaction between said antibodies and said solubilized specimen.
A lyophilized composition containing Chlamydia trachomatis outer membrane protein having a mean molecular weight of about 39,500 daltons.
Antisera compositions useful in immuno diagnostic assays of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mammals, said compositions being recovered from the blood serum of animals which have been previously inoculated with the principal outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis, said protein having a mean molecular weight of about 39,500 daltons.
Antibodies possessing a specific affinity for Chlamydia trachomatis principal outer cell membrane proteins having mean molecular weights of about 39,500 daltons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.