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. 1997 Jul;65(7):2970–2974. doi: 10.1128/iai.65.7.2970-2974.1997

A monoclonal antibody directed against the 97-kilodalton gonococcal hemin-binding protein inhibits hemin utilization by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

B C Lee 1, S Levesque 1
PMCID: PMC175416  PMID: 9199474

Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae expresses two hemin-binding proteins (HmBPs) of 97,000 and 44,000 in molecular weight. A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) produced against the 97-kDa HmBP from N. gonorrhoeae PID543 specifically inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the ability of hemin to promote growth. The anti-97-kDa HmBP MAb competitively inhibited binding of the 97-kDa HmBP to a hemin-agarose affinity column. In Western immunoblots, the MAb recognized the 97-kDa homologs from a limited survey of clinical gonococcal isolates. These results support the contention that the 97-kDa HmBP is involved in the gonococcal hemin acquisition pathway.

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Selected References

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