Antigenic analysis of Chlamydiae by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. I. Antigenic heterogeneity between C. trachomatis and C. psittaci.

Tw0-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis was used for the antigenic analysis of Chlamydia. Antigens of chlamydiae were found to be successfully solubilized with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. Nineteen and 16 distinct components were observed for Chlamydia trachomatis strain L2/434/Bu and C. psittaci strain Meningopneumonitis/Cal-10, respectively. The triton-solubilized antigens of chlamydiae differ strikingly between species since only one strong reciprocal cross-reacting antigen was observed between 434 and Cal-10. However, the antigens of Trachoma strain K/UW-31/Cx and LGV strain 434 were found to be very similar.