Abstract
The laboratory diagnosis of M. pneumoniae (M.pn) has previously depended upon cumbersome culture methods or comparison of acute and convalescent antibody titers. We have developed an immunoblot assay which employs a monoclonal antibody against a 43,000 Dalton (43-kDa) M.pn membrane protein. This technique was used to detect M.pn in throat swab specimens from young adults with pharyngitis. Specimens were inoculated into transport media (46) or PBS (33) and frozen at -70° C within 2 hours. The immunoblot asssay detected the 43-kDa protein in 0.5 ml aliquots of all 79 specimens. All 79 specimens were also culture positive and confirmed by growth inhibition assay. Throat swabs from 33 M.pn culture-negative patients and induced sputum samples from 10 healthy adults as well as clinical isolates of U. urealvticum and M. hominis did not demonstrate the 43-kDa membrane protein. This immunoblot assay provides accurate detection of M.pn from direct clinical specimens and yields results within 24 hours, thus allowing for relevant therapeutic decisions.
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Smith, J., McMillan, J., Higgins, A. et al. IMMUNOBLUI IDENTIFICATION OF A 43,000 DALTON MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE MEMBRANE PROTEIN IN CLINICAL SPECIMENS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 337 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01020