Leptospiral major outer membrane protein LipL32

摘要

An antigenic preparation is provided containing an outer membrane protein associated with pathogenic strains of Leptospira. The protein has been designated LipL32 for lipoprotein from Leptospira and because the isolated polypeptide migrates to a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 32 kD in a denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding LipL32 and antibodies that bind the protein which are useful in the diagnosis of leptospirosis. In addition, LipL32 can be used immunologically as a vaccine for spirochete-associated pathologies.