Mycoplasma penetrans: Charakterisierung antigener Zellmembranassoziierter Moleküle und ihre Bedeutung in der Pathogenese AIDS-assoziierter Nephropathien

The pathogenicity and prevalence of Mycoplasma penetrans, a mycoplasma species isolated from AIDS patients, are still debated. Epidemiological studies indicated an association between M. penetrans and HIV infection, suggesting that M. penetrans could act as a cofactor in the progression of the HIV-associated disease. However, the epidemiological studies performed thus far were based on a serological assay with lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) as target antigens without any knowledge of their intraspecies heterogeneity. In this project the heterogeneity of lipid-LAMPs between different M. penetrans clinical isolates and among their isogenic progenies were investigated. For this purpose, serial sera from an HIV-M. penetrans coinfected patient were used together with four newly developed monoclonal antibodies with unique LAMP specificities. These immunological tools allowed to demonstrate that several LAMPs vary among isogenic variants in an independent manner.

Zentrum für Pathobiologie

Technische Universität Dresden
Funktion: Partner
Abteilung: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene