# IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON GONOCOCCAL SURFACE ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · 1990 · $213,287

## Abstract

The goal of this proposal is to understand the molecular basis of the
pathogenesis of Neisseria gonorrhoea with specific emphasis on two of
its major outer membrane proteins called protein I and Protein III (PI &
PIII).  PI is the porin of Neisseria gonorrhoea and purified
preparations have marked physiologic effects on human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes. This antigen is a stable attribute of a particular strain
and the antigenic diversity is relatively modest.  It has therefore been
considered a prime candidate for vaccine development and antibodies have
protective effects in model systems.  It is proposed that 3' and 5'
deletion mutants of this protein will be engineered as well as hybrid PI
proteins of two different serotypes and that these mutant proteins will
be analyzed immunochemically with monoclonal antibodies to define the
topology of the protein, ad the epitopes that are recognized by
protective antibodies.  Mutant PI proteins with altered porin function
will be engineered or selected and their electrical and physiologic
properties delineated.

PIII is an invariant molecule and it is evident that human complement
fixing IgG antibodies  to PIII block the bactericidal and opsonic
activity of antibodies directed to other surface antigens.  It is
proposed to construct 3' ad 5' deletions of this protein and analyze
these immunochemically to define the topology of the protein and to
identify whether epitopes involved in blocking can be distinguished from
epitopes that are the target of bactericidal antibodies.  If this is
successful mutant PIII proteins lacking the blocking epitopes will be
engineered and their vaccine potential explored.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124740
- **Project number:** 5R01AI010615-20
- **Recipient organization:** ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LHGDNJMZ64Y1
- **Principal Investigator:** Emil C. Gotschlich
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $213,287
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1974-09-01 → 1994-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124740

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124740, IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON GONOCOCCAL SURFACE ANTIGENS (5R01AI010615-20). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124740. Licensed CC0.

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