Identification of potential diagnostic and protective antigen of Mycoplasm abovis

Mycoplasma bovis is a major component of the calf pneumonia complex but diagnosis of is still a challenge due to its cross-reactions with other mycoplasmas or frequently occurring intra-species anligenic variations which make results of serological tests doubtful. In India, disease conditions due to M. bovis have been well documented covering a wide host range including cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats. In the present study an Indian isolate of M. bovis NC 317, isohil eil from pneumonic buffalo, was studied to find out major proteins and two types of antigens were prepared viz: whole cell antigens (WCA) and sonicated supernatant antigen (SSA). These antigens were run under non reducing and non denaturating conditions on SDS PAGE to separate proteins. These separated proteins were transferred on to nitro cellulose membranes and blotted with polyclonal antibodies raised against M. bovis NC 317 in rabbits. SDS-PAGE profiles of whole cell antigen (WCA) and sonicated supernatant antigen (SSA) of M. bovis NC317 revealed seven major polypeptides of 63.10,60.25,47.86,44.66,33.88,31.62 and 28.84 kDa. On immunoblotting, with polyclonal hyper immune serum raised againstM bovis NC317, out of seven only five major polypeptides of 63.10,44.66,33.88,31.62 and 28.84 kDa were immunogenic. On the basis of size and intensity in SDS-PAGE, polypeptide of molecular weight 44.66 kDa appeared to be the most prospective antigen for the development of diagnostic and immuno prophylactic tools for the control and diagnosis of diseases caused by M. bovis.