01875nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002000055653003300075653002000108653001400128653001300142653001100155653001200166653002400178653002500202653003100227100001400258700001300272700001500285700001500300700001300315245010000328300001200428490000700440520111200447022001401559       1983                            d  c1983 Jun10aCorynebacterium10aCounterimmunoelectrophoresis10aCross Reactions10aCytoplasm10aEpitopes10aHumans10aleprosy10aMycobacterium bovis10aMycobacterium leprae10aMycobacterium tuberculosis1 aGueur M C1 aHarboe M1 aFontaine F1 aDelville J1 aCocito C00aComparison of the cytoplasmic antigens of leprosy-derived corynebacteria and some mycobacteria.  a497-5060 v173 a<p>The immunological relationship between leprosy-derived corynebacteria (LDC) and reference mycobacteria was analysed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel. For this purpose, three reference systems (LDC15/anti-LDC15, LDC18/anti-LDC8, and LDC8/anti-LDC8) were developed. They showed 15 to 20 distinct antigenic components in LDC cytoplasm. Extensive cross-reactivity was observed among different LDC isolates, affecting 3 to 17 components. Moreover, several components were shown to cross-react with mycobacteria when anti-bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), anti-Mycobacterium leprae, other antisera and lepromatous leprosy sera were incorporated in the intermediate gel. The major cross-reactive component, antigen M, was present in all LDC isolates and cross-reacted with antigen 7 of M. leprae and antigen 60 of M. bovis BCG. The thermostability of these antigens and the specificity of the cross-reacting antigens were assessed. The data underline the degree of immunochemical homogeneity within the LDC group of micro-organisms and relatedness with M. leprae and other mycobacteria.</p>  a0300-9475