Comparison of human and animal Ureaplasmas by one- and two-dimensional protein analysis on polyacrylamide slab gel.

The proteins of twelve serologically distinct ureaplasma strains of human origin, eleven of bovine origin and seven from other animal species were examined by one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by two-dimensional analysis. About 40 bands were seen in the protein profiles and more than 100 spots were detected on the protein maps. The human ureaplasmas differentiated into two distinct groups: group A comprised serotypes 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 (of Black), serotype 9 (of Robertson and Stemke) and strains K2 and U24 (of Lin and Kass); group B comprised serotypes 1, 3 and 6 (of Black) and strain U26 (of Lin and Kass). The bovine strains were subdivided into three groups: group A was formed by a cluster of related strains (Mmb167, Bu2, A417, T45, T95 and T288) which could be further divided into three sub-groups; group B comprised strains T74 and T44 and group C, strains T315, T71 and D48. These findings were consistent with the known serological clusterings. The bovine ureaplasma strains were distinct from the human strains. This, in addition to the known difference in the G + C content of human and bovine ureaplasmas, indicates that it would be reasonable to formulate a species name for the latter. Ureaplasmas from other animal species could be allotted to five groups which corresponded to the animal species of origin. The marmoset ureaplasmas were different from those of the squirrel-monkey, and both were different from all other ureaplasmas. On the other hand, the ureaplasmas from the talapoin monkey, chicken and chimpanzee formed a cluster which seemed related to human ureaplasmas of group A, the chimpanzee ureaplasma being the most closely related.