# ANTIGENS OF TREPONEMA PALLIDUM

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 1988 · $108,517

## Abstract

A major, immunodominant, 47,000 (47K) MW surface immunogen of Treponema
pallidum was identified using functionally-defined anti-T. pallidum
monoclonal antibodies.  It may represent the major immunogen of T.
pallidum.  The aim of this proposal is to further examine the biological
activities of both the "native" 47K immunogen as well as antibodies
elicited against it, and to assess their overall role(s) in the
pathogenesis and immunology of treponemal infection.

The 47K surface immunogen will be affinity purified from in vivo- or in
vitro-cultivated T. pallidum using monoclonal antibodies, and animals will
be immunized.  The antibody response in animals immunized with 47K
immunogen will be assessed using radioimmunoassay, microhemagglutination
assay for T. pallidum, indirect immunofluorescence,
radioimmunoprecipitation, Western blotting, T. pallidum immobilization
assay, blockage of T. pallidum attachment to host cells in vitro, and in
the in vitro-in vivo neutralization test of Bishop and Miller.  Animals
exhibiting strong humoral responses will be challenged with viable T.
pallidum to assess the vaccinogenic potential of the purified 47K
immunogen.  Simultaneously, anti-47K monoclonal antibodies will be used in
passive immunization studies with rabbits or hamsters.  The complete
primary amino acid sequence for the 47K immunogen will be deduced from
studies combining monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity purification,
N-terminal amino acid microsequencing, and recombinant DNA techniques.
Polyclonal or monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies, initially raised
against the idiotype of anti-47K monoclonal antibody 11E3, will be used in
attempt to elicit an anti-T. palldium response in animals never exposed to
T. pallidum.  In ongoing studies, monoclonal antibody affinity purification
of the 102K, 84K, 54K, 53K, 52K, 32K, 29K, and 24K immunogens of T.
pallidum will also be attempted.  Production of anti-T. pallidum monoclonal
antibodies for the isolation of monoclonal antibodies directed against the
36K, 34K, and 13K immunogens will continue.  The study attempts to narrow
the information gap regarding the role of the prospective immunogens of T.
pallidum, and the antibodies they elicit, in the immunopathogenesis of
syphilis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127184
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017366-06
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YZJ6DKPM4W63
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL V. NORGARD
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $108,517
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-04-01 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127184

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127184, ANTIGENS OF TREPONEMA PALLIDUM (5R01AI017366-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127184. Licensed CC0.

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