Protein fragments from the central region of the flagellin of Borrelia burgdorferi, suitable as antigens for specific antibody detection

摘要

New protein fragments (I), from the aminoacid 132-266 region of the flagellin of Borrelia burgdorferi, are encoded by DNA sequences which hybridise with the sequence of formula (I). USE/ADVANTAGE - (I) are used an antigens for sensitive and specific in vitro detection of antibodies specific for Lyme borrelosis Antisera raised against them show no cross-reactivity with flagellin proteins of other species (except weak reactivity with some other Borrelia species of little significance in Europe), i.e. (I) do not produce false positive in the same was as intact flagellin. Since (I) are small, microlitre plates coated with them can bind more specific antibodies than plates coated with flagellin, providing at least 3-fold increase in sensitivity.