Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Fig. 1.
Diagrammatic illustration of the VlsE structure. VlsE consists of two invariable domains at the amino and carboxyl termini and a variable one at the center. The variable domain contains six variable regions, VRI to VRVI, and six invariable ones, IR1 to IR6. The sequences of the invariable regions are based on those of the variable domain of VlsE expressed by strain IP90 of B. garinii(11).
- Fig. 2.
ELISA titers of rabbit antisera to synthetic peptides. Rabbit antipeptide antisera were serially diluted fourfold and reacted with the corresponding peptide bound to an ELISA plate, following the procedure described in the text. Titer was defined as the highest serum dilution at which the ELISA OD was larger than the mean OD value of the preimmune sera of all of the rabbits plus 3 standard deviations.
- Fig. 3.
Reactivity of rabbit antipeptide antibodies with VlsE. A whole-cell lysate of B. garinii IP90 spirochetes was separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred onto nitrocellulose. The blot was allowed to react with preimmune or rabbit antipeptide antiserum. MW, molecular weight (values are in thousands).
- Fig. 4.
Exposure of IR2, IR4, and IR5 at the VlsE surface. VlsE from B. gariniistrain IP90 spirochetes was extracted with solubilization buffer and immunoprecipitated with rabbit antipeptide antiserum or preimmune serum and protein G-agarose. Solubilized immunoprecipitates were separated by SDS-PAGE and blotted onto nitrocellulose. VlsE was visualized with rabbit anti-C6 antiserum and goat anti-rabbit IgG–peroxidase conjugate. In addition to VlsE (approximately 39.5 kDa), precipitated rabbit IgG is visible at the top of each lane. MW, molecular weight (values are in thousands).
- Fig. 5.
IR2 to IR5 are not accessible to antibody at the surface of spirochetes. B. garinii strain IP90 spirochetes either were fixed with acetone or left unfixed. Unfixed spirochetes were resuspended in PBS containing preimmune or immune rabbit antipeptide antiserum or positive control mouse antiserum, while fixed spirochetes were incubated in PBS-human serum supplemented with the same antiserum samples. Sensitized spirochetes were probed with goat anti-rabbit or -mouse IgG–fluorescein conjugate.
