• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 1992

The soluble antigen profiles and antigenic specificities of Leptospira interrogans serovars icterhaemorrhagiae, canicola, pomona and hardjo were examined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, crossed immunoeletrophoresis and immunoblotting. The profiles of protein, glycoprotein and fraction containing N-acetylglucosamine of 4 serovars were compared. The protein profiles of 4 serovars were very similar except the range of 14,400 to 30,000 daltons. Molecular weight of glycoprotein of L, pomona was lower than other serovars. L canicola showed extra N-acetylglucosamine bands having molecular weight of 82,000 and 90,000 daltons. In crossed immunoelectrophoresis, a close antigenic relationship was found between L icterohaemorrhagiae and L canicola. In immunoblottings conducted with soluble antigens and rabbit antisera of 4 serovars, Leptospira interrogans serovars possessed cross-reactive antigens and serovar-specific antigens. The molecular weights of serovar-specific antigens were 45,000, 82,000 and 90,000, 31,000 and 24,000 daltons in L icterohaemorrhagiae, L canicola, L pomona, and L hardjo, respectively.