Title of Invention

METHOD FOR DETECTING CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE

Abstract A method of specifically, quickly and highly sensitively detecting a microorganism belonging to Chlamydia pneumoniae; an antibody to be used in the detection; a detection reagent kit; and a process for producing the antibody to be used in the detection. Namely, an antibody against the ribosomal protein of a microorganism belonging to Chlamydia pneumoniae which reacts specifically with this microorganism; a method of detecting this microorganism in a specimen by using this antibody; and a detection reaction kit containing this antibody. The ribosomal protein is exemplified by Ribosomal Protein L7L12 employed in detecting the infection with a microorganism causative of pneumonia.
Full Text Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to antibody useful to a detection of microorganism that
belongs to Chlamydia pneumoniae, that is the cause microorganism of common pneumonia,
a detection method of the microorganism, a reagent kit for the detection of the
microorganism, and a method for preparing the antibody useful to a detection of the
microorganism.
The invention is important to medication, specifically to the diagnosis of atypical
pneumonia caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae.
The invention can be useful for detecting the species Chlamydia pneumoniae in test
samples, such as from throat swabs, tissue samples, body fluids, experimental solutions and
cultures.
Background Art
Diagnosis of microbial infections can be confirmed either by detection of the
causative pathogen from the infection site or by detection of antibodies to the disease
contributing microorganisms in serum and body fluids. The diagnosis, i.e. the detection of
the causative pathogen, is particularly important in the sense that it makes possible quick
treatment available to the patient
Detection of the causative pathogen of infections can be generally classified as
cultivation and identification methods, that the causative pathogen is selectively cultivated
and then identified based on its physiological, biochemical or structural properties; genetic
diagnosis, that the causative pathogen is amplified by PCR or target specific nucleic acid
hybridization etc., thus the causative pathogen is detected; or immunological methods, that
the causative pathogen is detected using a specific reaction of antibody with antigen marker
of the pathogen.
However, it takes time to obtain results by cultivation and identification methods or
genetic diagnosis methods. Therefore, diagnosis by immunological methods is commonly
used because the pathogen can be detected within a short time with high sensitivity thus the
patient can be quickly and appropriately treated.
Depending on the species of microorganism, a combination of a variety of marker
antigens and antibody or antibodies can be used for detecting the causative pathogen of
infections by conventional immunological methods.
Chlamydia pneumoniae is the common causative pathogen of pneumonia through
out the world. It is small non-motile Gram-negative bacteria that invade selectively human
host and cause diseases without any known animal reservoir. The sero-prevalence is 40 to
50% in the 30-to 40-year old age group(Hyman, Roblin et al. 1995). It causes pharyngitis,
bronchitis and mild pneumonia.
The microorganism is very small, obligate parasite and grow within the cytoplasm of
host cells. Growth of Chlamydia pneumoniae in tissue culture medium is slow (Godzik,
O'Brien et al. 1995), and might take at least 3-5 days or more for the identification of the
bacterium in the medium (Essig, Zucs et al. 1997). Therefore, Gram staining method and
culture method are not pertinent for the diagnostic method rapidly detecting the causative
pathogen. As a rapid diagnosis for Chlamydia, the immunological method using antibody is
often used.
It is known that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a genus-specific antigen of
Chlamydia, is present as an antigen determinant (Verkooyen, Van Lent et al. 1998), and
antibodies to LPS are used as the reagent antibody in various diagnostic kits, particularly for
detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.
Moreover, Peterson et al.(Peterson, Cheng et al. 1993; Peterson, de la Maza et al.
1998), and Batteiger et al. (Batteiger, Newhall et al. 1986) have both reported on monoclonal
antibody to major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of the genus Chlamydia.
These antibodies were found to be useful to distinguish Chlamydia pneumoniae and
Chlamydia trachomatis. Later, these antibodies played an important role in unveiling
antigenic differences within the species of Chlamydia pneumoniae. Antigens like these
might have advantage for serotyping within the species of Chlamydia pneumoniae, but not
for routine diagnosis where all strains of the species are needed to be detect. A common
antigen with common function, that most of the structure is evolutionarily protected in the
species of the microorganism, but the antigen that could be used for selectively detecting the
differences, was not known hitherto.
The present invention relates to useful protein commonly existing in all
microorganisms as molecules having same function, and as protein antigen for obtaining
antibody. Generally, these molecules do structurally change in a small scale. If these same
functional common molecules structurally change in a large scale, it may bring important
bad influence to the survival of the microorganisms.
Though there is a few numbers of commercially available monoclonal antibodies for
the detection of the pathogen of Chlamydia, those are not enough. Till not long ago it was
believed that only TWAR strain causes pneumonia (Thorn and Grayston 1991; United States
Patent No. 5,008,186). Recently several sero-variety of the pathogen of Chlamydia have
been reported. It is found that LPS or MOMP differ from strain to strain and antibodies to
only one serotype do not cover all.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention has been achieved to solve the above problems. Specifically,
an object of the present invention is to provide a method for specifically, high- sensitively
and rapidly detecting a microorganism that belongs to Chlamydia pneumoniae, a detection
antibody using for the detection and a reagent kit for the detection. Furthermore, another
object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the detection
antibody using for the detection.
The inventors have identified a useful protein antigen that is conserved same
function in all microorganisms. Generally, the structural change of said protein is expected
to be very low. Surprisingly, it has been found that the antibody to the protein is specific to
species or genus of microorganism, has a protean property enable to use for discrimination
specific to species or genus of microorganism, and object microorganisms may be detected
all serotypes thereof.
The inventors focused on intracellular molecules that are present as molecules
having same function in all microorganism cells and somewhat differ between
microorganisms in terms of it's amino acid sequence, particularly Ribosomal Protein L7/L12
that is one kind of ribosomal protein. Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 is a protein with a
molecular weight of approximately 13 kilo Daltons and is known to exist as an essential
ribosomal protein in protein synthesis. Progress has been made in understanding the
complete amino acid sequence of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 in several microorganisms
including Chlamydia pneumoniae.
The inventors focused on the fact that even though there are similarities between
different microorganisms in terms of said molecule, this molecule also has a structural
segment that is unique to each microorganism and discovered that, it is possible to detect
various microorganisms with species specificity and to detect all serotypes within the same
species by using antibody to said protein.
The inventors completed the present invention upon discovering that antibody
specific to the protein of Chlamydia pneumoniae can be obtained and species-specific
detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae is possible using said antibody.
In accordance with the present invention a monoclonal antibody specific to
Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia pneumoniae has been discovered and developed.
The antibody is novel and different from any antibody previously known and has property of
reacting specifically to the said protein.
Sequences No. 1 and No. 2 in the Sequence List are the DNA sequence (NCBI
database accession #NC#000922) of the Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 gene of Chlamydia
pneumoniae and the corresponding amino acid sequence (NCBI database accession
#AE001593.1, NCBI data base). The left terminal and right terminal of the amino acid
sequences entered in the Sequence List are amino group (referred to below as the N terminal)
and carboxyl group terminals (referred to below as the C terminal), respectively, and the left
terminal and right terminal of the base sequence is the 5' terminal and the 3' terminal,
respectively. Amino acid in the sequence of closest match test is expressed by one letter
notation of amino acid. The notation "+" in closest match test indicates that it is different
amino acid but amino acid with similar properties such as hydrophobic. The notation
(blank) indicates that it is entirely different amino acid including properties thereof.
Moreover, the series of bio-molecular experiments of gene preparation mentioned in this
text can be performed by methods entered in standard experimental manuals. "Molecular
cloning: A laboratory manual", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Sambrook, J. et al.
(1989), is given as an example of the well-known standard experimental manual.
In the present invention, the term "microorganism" means Chlamydia pneumoniae.
specifically, indicates microorganism having a pathogenic property in respiratory organ and
high significance in diagnosis as a causative pathogen of Chlamydia infections.
In the present invention, the term "antibody specifically reacting with
microorganism" indicates an antibody that can specifically react with species or genus of
microorganism, and antibody specifically reacting with species is especially useful in
diagnosis of bacterial infections.
The term "antibody" in the present invention means a polyclonal antibody or
monoclonal antibody that can be made using the entire length or only a partial peptide of said
Ribosomal Protein L7/L12. Although mere are no special restrictions to the peptide length
for making the antibody, in the case the antibody to Ribosomal Protein L7/L12, the segment
may be of the length characterizing the Ribosomal Protein L7/L12, and a peptide of 5 amino
acids or longer, particularly 8 amino acids or longer, is preferred.
Antiserum containing antibody (polyclonal antibody) that identifies Ribosomal
Protein L7/L12 can be obtained by inoculating laboratory animals with adjuvant and a
peptide or the full length protein, as is or, when necessary, after being cross-linked with a
carrier protein such as KLH (keyhole-limpet hemocyanin) and BSA (bovine serum albumin)
and recovering the serum. Moreover, the antibody can be used after it has been purified
from the antiserum. The laboratory animals that are inoculated include sheep, horses, goats,
rabbits, mice, rats, etc., and sheep, rabbits, etc., are particularly preferred for preparation of
monoclonal antibody. Moreover, monoclonal antibody can also be obtained by
conventional methods of making hybridomacells, but mice are preferred in this case.
The entire length of said protein, or its amino acid sequence of 5 or more, preferably
8 or more, residues that has been fused with" glutathione S-transferase (GST), etc., can be
purified and used as antigen, or it can be used as antigen without being purified. The
antibody can also be produced from the genetic recombination antibody expressed in
cultured cell using immunoglobulin genes that have been separated by a variety of methods
in published documents ("Antibodies: A Laboratory manual," E. Harlow et al., Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory), cloning methods, etc.
Antibody to Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 that can be employed as the marker antigen
of the present invention can be obtained by the following methods, and other similar
methods as well, though not to be limited within these methods:
a) The desired antibody can be acquired by synthesizing a peptide fragment, in the
case microorganism has a known Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 genetic sequence and amino
acid sequence, using the region least similar to the amino acid sequence of said protein of
another bacteria and making polyclonal antibody, or monoclonal antibody, using this
peptide fragment as the immune source.
Moreover, it is possible to acquire the entire sequence of said gene by using a
conventional genetic procedure, such as gene amplification by PCR using the DNA
sequence at both terminals of said known genetic sequence as the probe, or hybridization
using the sequence of a homologous segment as the template probe.
Then, a fused gene with another protein gene is constructed and said fused gene is
inserted into the host by conventional gene insertion methods using Escherichia coli, etc., as
the host and expressed in large quantities. The desired protein antigen can then be acquired
by purifying the expressed protein by affinity column methods with antibody to the protein
that was used as the fusion protein. In such a case, even if antibody to the amino acid
segment retained within the microorganism is acquired, it does not coincide with the purpose
of the present invention because the full length of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 becomes the
antigen. Consequently, hybridoma that produces monoclonal antibody to the antigen that
has been obtained by this method is acquired by conventional methods and the desired
antibody can be obtained by selecting a clone, which produces antibody that will react only
with the desired microorganism.
b) For microorganism that the amino acid sequence of the Ribosomal Protein L7/L12
is unknown, as the amino acid sequence of the Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 has 50 - 60 % of
homology between microorganism, the protein gene can easily obtained by using a
conventional genetic procedure, such as gene amplification of specific sequence moiety by
PCR based on the sequence of a homologous segment of the amino acid sequence, or
hybridization using the sequence of a homologous segment as the template probe.
Then, a fused gene with another protein gene is constructed and said fused gene is
inserted into the host such as Escherichia coli, and the like by conventional gene insertion
methods, and expressed in large quantities. The desired protein antigen can then be acquired
by purifying the expressed protein by affinity column methods with antibody to the protein
that was used as the fusion protein In such a case, even if antibody to the amino acid
segment retained within the microorganism is acquired, it does not coincide with the purpose
of the present invention because the full length of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 becomes the
antigen. Consequently, hybridoma that produces monoclonal antibody to the antigen that
has been obtained by this method is acquired by conventional methods and the desired
antibody can be obtained by selecting a clone, which produces antibody that will react only
with the desired microorganism.
c) Alternatively, as another method that is suitable for the case where the amino acid
sequence of the Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 is unknown, a peptide of 5 to 30 amino acids
corresponding to the common sequence segment retained in the microorganism is
synthesized from the known amino acid sequence of the Ribosomal Protein L7/L12, and
polyclonal antibody or monoclonal antibody to this peptide sequence is made by
conventional methods. Then Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 highly purified can be obtained by
purifying the disrupted liquid of bacterial cells through affinity column chromatography
using said antibody.
If purity of the protein is insufficient, it can be purified by conventional methods,
such as ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel filtration, etc.,
after which the eluted fraction of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 is identified by method such as
western blotting using antibody that was made, and purified protein can be obtained. The
desired antibody can be obtained by acquiring hybridoma by conventional methods using
the purified Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 antigen mat has been obtained, and selecting
hybridoma reactable specifically with the desired microorganism.
The antibody of the present invention specific to various microorganisms that has
been obtained by the methods in a), b) and c) can be used in various diagnostic reagents and
kits specific to microorganisms, and can be used in a variety of immunoassay methods. For
example, mis antibody can be used in aggregation reactions, mat is one of known measuring
method and where antibody is adsorbed on polystyrene latex particles, ELISA, which is a
conventional technology performed in a microtiter plate, conventional
immunochromatography mediods, and sandwich assay, whereby said antibody labeled with
colored particles or particles having coloring capability, or with enzyme or fluorescence
substance, and magnetic micro-particles coated with capture antibody, etc., are used, etc.
The term "microorganism diagnosis methods using antibody" means diagnostics
methods using any known conventional immunoassay, such as aggregation whereby said
antibody is adsorbed on polystyrene latex particles, ELISA, which is a conventional method
performed in a microtiter plate, conventional immunochromatography methods, or
sandwich assay, whereby said antibody labeled with colored particles or particles having
coloring capability, or with enzyme or fluorescence substances, and magnetic
micro-particles coated with capture antibody, etc., are used.
Moreover, the optical immunoassay (OLA.) technology described in Japanese (via
International) Patent Application Laid-open No. 07(1995)-509565, in which
microorganisms are detected by the principle of an optical interference induced by an
antibody reaction on the optical thin film which is formed by silicone, silicon nitride or the
like, is a useful as a high sensible diagnostic method, especially as a diagnostic method of
microorganisms using an antibody.
Moreover, as a method for extracting intracellular marker antigen from the desired
microorganism in aforementioned diagnostic method, reagent treatment using an extraction
reagent(s) comprising various surfactants, such as typically Triton X-100 and Tween-20,
enzyme treatment using an appropriate enzyme, such as protease, etc., and physical
treatment using known cell structure crushing methods, typically cell-crushing of
microorganism, can be used. It is preferred that the most suitable conditions for extracting
with reagent are set to each kind of microorganism using a proper combination of
surfactants, etc.
Moreover, in the present invention the term "reagent kit for diagnosis of
microorganisms using antibody" means a diagnostic kit that uses the above-mentioned
diagnostic method.
The amino acid and DNA sequence of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia
pneumoniae are shown as Sequence Numbers 1 and 2 in Sequence List, respectively.
Consequently, in the case of this microorganism, it is possible to compare the amino acid
sequence of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 with the same protein of closely related
microorganisms. Which is shown in Sequence List under the heading "Closest Match".
Synthesizing a peptide with the segment of low homology and making polyclonal or
monoclonal antibody to that could short cut the selection of those having specificity to the
microorganisms.
Especially in the case of a polyclonal antibody, it is preferred that IgG fraction be
obtained by purification of the antiserum of immunized laboratory animals with a protein A
column, etc., and affinity purification be performed with the synthetic peptide used in
immunization of the laboratory animals.
Moreover, PCR primers are formed based on the sequences of N-terminal and
C-terminal from the DNA sequence of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of the microorganism.
Utilizing homology of the PCR primers, DNA fragments are amplified by the PCR method
using genomic DNA and extracted, the fragments of Chlamydia pneumoniae can be thus
acquired according to a conventional method. The entire length of the gene for Ribosomal
Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia pneumoniae can be acquired through the analysis of the DNA
sequence information of mese fragments.
The Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 gene of Chlamydia pneumoniae thus acquired forms
a fusion protein gene with, for example, GST, etc., and an expression vector is built using an
appropriate expression plasmid, Escherichia coli is transformed and a large quantity of said
protein can be expressed. A suitable amount of the transformed Escherichia coli is
cultivated and disrupted bacterial fluid is subjected to purification by an affinity column
using GST to obtain the GST fusion Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia pneumoniae.
It is also possible to acquire the target specific monoclonal antibody by establishing a
multiple clone of hybridomas using said protein as is or GST moiety deleted protein as an
antigen protein, and selecting the antibody which exhibits a specific response to Chlamydia
pneumoniae bacteria, a homogenized fluid of the bacteria, or Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of
Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Antibody made based on the present invention can be used in all known types of
immunoassay, such as known aggregation reaction whereby said antibody is adsorbed on
polystyrene latex particles, ELISA, which is a conventional technology performed in a
microliter plate, conventional immunochromatography, and sandwich assay, whereby said
antibody labeled with colored particles or particles that have coloring capability, or enzymes
or fluorescence substances, and magnetic particles coated with capture antibody are used,
etc.
Moreover, antibody that is made based on the present invention can simultaneously
function as a so-called capture antibody that captures said antigen protein in solid or liquid
phase and as a detecting antibody that is a so-called enzyme-labeled antibody by
modificating an enzyme, such as peroxidase and alkali phosphatase, etc., by conventional
methods in any of these immunoassay procedure.
Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
The following examples are given to explain specifically the present invention; the
present invention the principle of is not being restricted to these examples.
Example 1
Cloning of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 genes from Chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae (ATCC VR-1310; distributed and purchased from ATCC)
was cultured on a monolayer of HL cell line. Detailed procedure for culturing Chlamydia
pneumoniae is described by Kuo et al. and the like (Cles and Stamm 1990; Kuo and
Grayston 1990; Yoshizawa, Dairiki et al. 1992). The microorganism was cultivated for 5
days in a CO2 incubator under conditions of 37°C and 5% CO2. Infected cells were collected
by centrifugation and suspended in a TE buffer (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) to a
final concentration of approximately 5 x 107 cells/ml. Approximately 1.5 ml of this
suspension was transferred to a microcentrifuge tube and centrifuged for 2 minutes at 10,000
rpm. The supernatant was discarded. The sediment was resuspended in 567 µl of TE buffer.
Then 30 µl of 10% SDS and 3 µl of 20 mg/ml Proteinase K solution were added and
thoroughly mixed, and the suspension was incubated for one hour at 37°C. The suspension
was incubated for another one hour at 56°C. After adding 80 µl of 10% acetyl trimethyl
ammonium bromide/0.7 M NaCl solution, it was incubated for 10 minutes at 65°C. 700 µl of
chloroform-isoamyl alcohol solution at a volume ratio of 24:1 was added,and stirred well.
The solution was centrifuged for 5 minutes at 4°C and 12,000 rpm using a
microcentrifugation device and the aqueous fraction was transferred to a new
microcentrifuge tube. Isopropanol was added to the fraction at 0.6-times its volume and the
tube was vigorously shaken to form sediment of the DNA. The white DNA sediment was
scooped with a glass rod and transferred to a different microcentrifugation tube containing 1
ml of 70% ethanol (cooled to -20°C). The tube was centrifuged for 5 minutes at 10,000 rpm
and the supernatant was gently removed. Then another 1 ml of 70% ethanol was added and
the mixture was centrifuged for 5 more minutes.
Once the supernatant had been removed, the sediment was dissolved in 100 µl of TE
buffer to obtain the DNA solution. The concentration of the genomic DNA solution was
determined quantitatively in accordance with E5. Spectrophotometric Determination of the
Amount of DNA or RNA in "Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual", Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory Press, Sambrook, J. et al. (1989).
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was performed using 10ng of this genomic DNA.
Taq polymerase (Takara Co., ltd., code R001A) was used for PCR. Five µl of buffer attached
the enzyme, 4 µl of a dNTP mixture attached the enzyme, and 200 pmol of each synthetic
oligonucleotide (shown in Sequence No. 3-and 4 of the Sequence List) were added to the
enzyme. Purified water was added to bring the final volume to 50 µl.
This mixture was cycled '5 times with a TaKaRa PCR Thermal Cycler 480 for 1
minute at 95°C, 2 minutes at 50°C, and 3 minutes at 72°C and was then cycled 25 times for 1
minute at 95°C, 2 minutes at 60°C, and 3 minutes at 72°C. Electrophoresis was performed in
1.5% agarose gel using a part of this PCR product. This product was then stained with
ethidium bromide (Nippon Gene Co., Ltd.) and observed under ultraviolet ray to confirm
amplification of approximately 400 bp DNA. After fragmentation treatment with restriction
endonucleases BamHI and Xhol, electrophoresis was performed in 1.5% agarose gel and
staining with ethidium bromide was carried out. An approximately 400 bp band was cut out
from the gel. This band was purified with Suprecol (Takara Co., Ltd.) and then inserted into
pGEX-6P-l (Pharmacia), which is a common vector. This vector can function as an
expression vector for the desired molecule, which can express fused protein with GST
protein, by insertion of the desired gene fragment into the appropriate restriction
endonuclease site.
Specifically, vector pGEX-6P-l and the previous DNA were mixed together at a
molar ratio of 1:3 and DNA was inserted into the vector with T4 DNA ligase (Invitrogen
Co.)- Vector pGEX-6P-l into which DNA had been inserted was genetically introduced to
Escherichia coli one-shot competent cells and then inoculated in a plate of LB L-broth agar
(Takara Co., ltd.) which was semi-sold culture plate containing 50 µl/ml ampicillin (Sigma).
The plate was then incubated at 37°C for 12 hours and the grown colonies were selected at
random and inoculated into L-Broth liquid culture medium containing the same
concentration of ampicillin. Shake cultivation was performed at 37°C for 8 hours and the
bacteria were recovered and the plasmid was separated using Wizard Miniprep in
accordance with the attached description. The plasmid was cleaved with restriction
endonuclease BamHI/XhoI. Insertion of said PCR product was confirmed by cutting out
approximately 370 bp DNA. The base sequence of the DNA that had been inserted was
determined using said clone.
Determination of the base sequence of the inserted DNA fragment was performed
using the Fluorescence Sequencer of Applied Biosystems.
The sequence sample was prepared using PRISM, Ready Reaction Dye Terminator
Cycle Sequencing Kit (Applied Biosystems). First, 9.5 µl of reaction stock solution, 4.0 µl
of 0.8 pmol/µl T7 promoter primer (Gibco BRL) and 6.5 µl of 0.16 µg/µl template DNA
were added to a microtube with a capacity of 0.5 ml and mixed. After covering the mixture
with a double layer of 100µl mineral oil, PCR amplification was performed for 25 cycles,
where one cycle consisted of 30 seconds at 96°C, 15 seconds at 55°C, and 4 minutes at 60°C.
The product was then kept at 4°C for 5 minutes. After the reaction was completed, 80 µl
sterilized pure water was added and stirred. The product was centrifuged and the aqueous
layer was extracted 3 times with phenol-chloroform mixed solution. Ten microliters
3M-sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and 300µl ethanol were added to 100µl aqueous layers and
stirred. The product was then centrifuged for 15 minutes at room temperature and 14,000
rpm and the sediment was recovered. Once the sediment was washed with 75% ethanol, it
was dried under a vacuum for 2 minutes to obtain the sequencing sample. The sequencing
sample was dissolved in formamide contain ling 4 µl of 10 mM EDTA and denatured for 2
minutes at 90°C This was then cooled in ice and submitted to sequencing. Two out of the 5
randomly selected clones had homology of the sequence with the probe used for PCR. In
addition, a DNA sequence was evidently identical to the gene sequence of Ribosomal
Protein L7/L12. The entire base sequence and the corresponding amino acid sequence of the
structural gene moiety are as shown in Sequence No. 4 and No. 5 of the Sequence List. This
gene fragment clearly codes for Chlamydia pneumoniae Ribosomal Protein L7/L12.
Example 2
Mass expression in Escherichia coil and purification of Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 from
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Escherichia coli into which expression vector had been inserted was cultivated
overnight in 50 ml of LB medium at 37°C. Then 500 ml of 2-times concentrated YT medium
was heated at 37°C for 1 hour. Fifty milliliters of the Escherichia coli solution that had been
cultivated overnight were introduced to 500 ml of the aforementioned medium One hour
later, 550 µl of 100 mM isopropyl-ß-D(-)-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) were introduced
and cultivated for 4 hours. The product Was then recovered and introduced to 250 ml
centrifugation tubes and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 7,000 rpm. The supernatant was
discarded and dissolved in 25 ml each of Lysis buffer containing 25% sucrose in 50 mM Tris
buffer, pH 7.4. Furthermore, 1.25 ml of 10% NP-40 and 125 µl of 1M MgCl2 were added
and the mixture was transferred to a plastic tube. Ultrasonication was performed 1 minute x
5 times while ice cold. The product was centrifuged for 15 minutes at 12,000 rpm and the
supernatant was recovered.
Next, the aforementioned supernatant was adsorbed on a glutathione agarose column
conditioned with PBS. Then the column was washed with twice bed volume of washing
solution containing 4.2 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) in 20 mM Tris buffer, pH
7.4. Elution was performed in 50 mM Tris buffer, pH 9.6, containing 5 mM glutathione.
The protein content in the elution fraction was determined by the pigment bonding method
(Bradford method; BioRad Co.) and the main fraction was acquired.
Purity of the purified GST fusion Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 that was obtained was
confirmed by electrophoresis to be approximately 75%, showing the purity satisfactory for
an immunogen.
Example 3
Preparation of monoclonal antibody to Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia
pneumoniae
First, regarding to the immunization of mice, 100 p.g of the GST fusion of Ribosomal
Protein L7/L12 antigen of Chlamydia pneumoniae were dissolved in 200 µlof PBS and then
200 uJ of Freund's complete adjuvant were added and mixed and emulsification was
performed. Two hundred microliters of the emulsion were injected intraperitoneally to
immunize mice. Then the same emulsion antigen was intraperitoneally injected after 2
weeks, after 4 weeks, and after 6 weeks. Two-fold the concentration of antigen emulsion
was injected intraperitoneally after 10 weeks and after 14 weeks. The spleen was excised
out 3 days after the final immunization and submitted to cell fusion.
After thoroughly mixing 2 x 107 myeloma cells per 108 spleen cells, which had been
recovered aseptically from mice, in a glass tube, the mixture was centrifuged for 5 minutes at
1,500 rpm and the supernatant was discarded. The cells were then thoroughly mixed.
The myeloma cells used for cell fusion were obtained by cultivation of cell strain
NS-1 with an RPMI 1640 culture medium containing 10% bovine fetal serum, cultivating
this product using an RPMI 1640 medium containing 0.13 mM azaguanine, 0.5 µg/ml
MC-210, and 10% bovine fetal serum for 1 weeks from 2 weeks before the cell fusion, and
then further cultivating the cell strain for 1 week with an RPMI 1640 medium containing
10% bovine fetal serum.
Fifty ml of RPMI 1640 culture medium that had been kept at 37°C were added to the
mixed cell sample and centrifuged at 1,500 rpm. After removing the supernatant, 1 ml of
50% polyethylene glycol that had been kept at 37°C was added and stirred for 1 minute. Ten
ml of RPMI 1640 medium kept at 37° were added and the mixed solution was vigorously
mixed for approximately 5 minutes by sucking and discharging the mixed solution with a
sterile pipette.
After centrifugation for 5 minutes at 1,000 rpm and removal of the supernatant, 30
ml of HAT culture medium were added to bring the cell concentration to 5 x 106cells/mi
This mixture was stirred till uniform and then poured, 0.1 ml per each well, into a 96-well
culture plate and cultivated at 37°C and under condition of 7% carbon dioxide gas. HAT
culture was added, 0.1 ml at a time, on the first day, at after 1 week and after 2 week,
respectively. Then the cells mat had produced the desired antibody were screened by
ELISA.
GST fusion Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 and GST protein were dissolved in PBS
containing 0.05% sodium azide and diluted to 10 jig/ml. The diluted solutions were
separately poured, 100 µl per each well, into 96-well plates and adsorbed overnight at 4°C.
After removing the supernatant, 200 µl of 1% bovine serum albumin solution in PBS
were added and the mixture was reacted and blocked for 1 hour at room temperature. After
removing the supernatant, the product was washed with washing solution (0.02% Tween 20,
PBS). One hundred microliters of culture solution of fused cells were added to this and
reacted for 2 hours at room temperature. The supernatant was removed and the sediment
was washed with washing solution. Next, 100 µl of 50 ng/ml peroxidase-labeled goat
anti-mouse IgG antibody solution were added and the mixture was reacted for 1 hour at room
temperature. The supernatant was removed and the product was washed again with washing
solution. Then TMB solution (KPL Co., Ltd.) was added, 100 µl each, and the mixture was
reacted for 20 minutes at room temperature. After coloration, 100 µl of 1N sulfuric acid
were added to stop the reaction and absorbance at 450 nm was determined.
As a result, positive cells that reacted only with GST fusion Ribosomal Protein
L7/L12 but did not react with GST protein were detected, thus it could be concluded that
antibody to Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 is produced.
Therefore, the cells in the positive wells were recovered and cultivated with HAT
medium in a 24-well plastic plate.
The fused medium that had been cultivated was diluted with HT medium to a cell
number of approximately 20 cells/ml and then 50 µl of the diluted medium was mixed with
106 six-week-old mouse thymus cells suspended in HT culture medium in a 96-well culture
plate. The culture was then cultivated for 2 weeks at 37°C and under conditions of 7%
carbon dioxide gas.
Antibody activity in the culture supernatant was similarly determined by the
aforementioned ELISA method and the cells that showed positive reaction with Ribosomal
Protein L7/L12 were recovered. Furthermore, the same dilution detection and cloning
procedure was repeated to obtain 5 clones in total as hybridoma CPRB-1 ~ 5.
Example 4
Selection of monoclonal antibody that detects Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia
pneumoniae.
Monoclonal antibody was produced and recovered in accordance with conventional
methods using the positive hybridoma cells obtained as previously described.
Specifically, 5 x 106 cells in PBS that had been subcultured using RPMI1640 culture
medium containing 10% FCS were intraperitoneally injected into Balb/C mice that had been
intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 ml Pristane before 2 weeks in advance. Ascites was
recovered 3 weeks later and the centrifugation supernatant was obtained.
The obtained solution containing antibody was adsorbed in a Protein A column (5
ml, Pharmacia) and rinsed with PBS at 3-times volume. Then elution with citrate buffer, pH
3, was performed. The antibody fraction was recovered and the monoclonal antibody that
produced by each hybridoma was obtained. The monoclonal antibody derived from these 5
strains of hybridoma was evaluated by ELISA method.
The sandwich assay method was used to evaluate the monoclonal antibody. The
monoclonal antibody mat was prepared was used as antibody for detection by being
chemically bound to peroxidase.
That is, enzyme labeling was performed using horseradish peroxidase (Sigma Grade
VI) in accordance with the method described in "Analytical Biochemistry 132 (1983),
68-73" using the reagent S-acetylthioacetic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide for binding. In the
ELISA reaction, a solution of a commercially available anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae
polyclonal antibody (rabbit) diluted to a concentration of 10 µg/ml was separately poured,
100 µl per each well, into a 96-well plate and adsorbed overnight at 4°C.
After removing the supernatant, 200 µl of 1 % bovine serum albumin solution in PBS
were added and the mixture was reacted and blocked for 1 hour at room temperature. The
supernatant was removed and the product was washed with washing solution containing
0.02% Tween 20, in PBS. One hundred microliters of antigen solution, which had been
obtained by adding Triton X-100 to culture solutions of each species of microorganism to a
concentration of 0.3% and then extracting the solution for 5 minutes at room temperature,
were added to this and the mixture was reacted for 2 hours at room temperature. The
supernatant was removed and the product was washed again with washing solution. Then
100 µl of 5 µg/ml peroxidase-labeled anti-Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 antibody solution were
added and the mixture was reacted for 1 hour at room temperature. The supernatant was
removed and the product was washed with washing solution. TMB (KPL) solution was
added, 100 µl each, and the mixture was reacted for 20 minutes at room temperature. After
coloration, 100 µl of 1N sulfuric acid were added to stop the reaction. Absorbance at 450 nm
was determined.
It is evident that when monoclonal antibody derived from hybridoma CPRB-1 was
used as the enzyme-labeled antibody, all strains of Chlamydia pneumoniae tested were
detected at a sensitivity of 106 cells/ml, while reactivity of other microorganisms, such as
Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Neisseria
meningitides could not be detected, even at high concentrations of 108 cells/ml and therefore,
antibody with specific reactivity to Chlamydia pneumoniae can be obtained by using
monoclonal antibody to Ribosomal Protein L7/L12. The antibody was named as AMCP-1.
Table 2 shows only those results with AMCP-1. Results with other antibodies that
cross-reacted with other microorganisms are not mentioned here.
Example 5
Acquisition of a polyclonal antibody, which specifically reacts with Ribosomal Protein
L7/L12 of Chlamydia pneumoniae using a Ribosomal Protein L7/L12-immobilized affinity
column
Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia pneumoniae , which was acquired by the
method described in Examples 1, or the supernatant of Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria
treated with Triton X-100 was used as an antigen. About 1.2 ml of a physiological saline
solution containing 100 µg of antigen was emulsified with the addition of 1.5 ml of Freund's
adjuvant. The emulsion was subcutaneously injected into SPF Japanese White Rabbit to
immunize the rabbit. The rabbit was immunized 5 to 6 times once every two weeks, and the
antibody titer was confirmed.
The antibody titer was confirmed by the ELISA method. Ribosomal Protein L7/L12
of Chlamydia pneumoniae was dissolved in PBS containing 0.05% sodium azide and diluted
to concentration of 10 µg/ml. The diluted solution was poured, 100 µl per each well, into
96-well plates and adsorbed overnight at 4°C. After removing the supernatant, 200 µl of 1 %
bovine serum albumin solution in PBS were added and the mixture was reacted and blocked
for 1 hour at room temperature. The supernatant was removed and the product was washed
with a washing solution containing 0.02% Tween 20, in PBS. One hundred µl of a solution
obtained by diluting normal rabbit serum and immunized rabbit antiserum was added and the
mixture was reacted for two hours at room temperature. The supernatant was removed and
the product was washed again with a washing solution. Then, 100 µl of 50 ng/ml
peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody solution was added and the mixture was
reacted for one hour at room temperature. The supernatant was removed and the product
was washed with a washing solution. OPD solution (Sigma Co.) was added, 100 µl each,
and each mixture was reacted for 20 minutes at room temperature. After coloration, 100 µl
of IN sulfuric acid was added to stop the reaction. Absorbance at 492 nm was determined.
After confirming that the antibody titer had increased, a large quantity of blood was
collected. Blood was collected in a glass centrifuge tube from the ear artery, allowed to
stand for one hour at 37°C, and then overnight at 4°C. The blood was centrifuged at 3,000
rpm for 5 minutes and the supernatant was recovered. The resulting anti-serum was stored at
4°C.
An affinity column immobilized Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia
pneumoniae was prepared. HiTrap NHS-activated column (1 ml, manufactured by
Pharmacia was used. Immediately after replacing the column with 1 mM HC1, a solution of
Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 in PBS (1 mg/ml) was charged. The column was allowed to
stand for 30 minutes and a blocking reagent was charged, followed by equilibration with
PBS.
Using the affinity column immobilized Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia
pneumoniae, the polyclonal antibody in the resulting anti-serum obtained as an antigen from
me supernatant of Triton X-100 treated bacteria of Chlamydia pneumoniae was purified.
This antiserum was diluted with PBS to 5 times of its volume, passed through a 0.45 µm
filter, and then adsorbed in the column immobilized Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of
Chlamydia pneumoniae at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. After elution from the column with 0.1
M glycine, pH 2.1, the eluted fraction was immediately neutralized with 1 M Tris buffer, pH
9.0, the target antibody in eluted fraction was then recovered by the ELISA method similar
to the antibody-titer measuring method.
The polyclonal antibody obtained in this manner was evaluated by the OIA method
as described in Japanese (via International) Patent Application Laid-open No.
07(1995)-509565.
The purified antibody was used as a capture antibody for the OIA method.
Moreover, peroxidase-labeled AMCP-1 monoclonal antibody described in Example-4 was
used as the detect antibody. That is, enzyme labeling was performed in accordance with the
method described in "Analytical Biochemistry 132 (1983), 68-73" using horseradish
peroxidase (Sigma Grade VI) and the reagent S-acetylthioacetic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide
for binding.
In the OIA reaction, the purified polyclonal antibody in PBS containing 0.05%
sodium azide was diluted with 0.1 M HEPES buffer, pH 8.0, to a concentration of 10 µg/ml
and the diluted was added onto a silicon wafer, 50 pi at a time, to react for 30 minutes at
room temperature, followed by washing with distilled water and coating with a coating
solution including sucrose and alkali treated casein.
Fifteen µl of antigen solution, which had been obtained by adding Triton X-100 to
culture solutions of each bacterium to a concentration of 0.5% and then extracting the
solution for 5 minutes at room temperature, was added onto the above silicon wafer and
reacted for 10 minutes at room temperature. Then, 15 µl of 20 µg/ml peroxidase-labeled
monoclonal antibody was added and reacted for 10 minutes. After washing with distilled
water, TMB solution (KPL) was added, 15 µl at a time, and reacted for 5 minutes at room
temperature. The product was washed with distilled water and observed the blue generated
from the enzyme reaction.
As a result, as shown in Table 3 it is clear that when the purified polyclonal antibody
APCP-1 is used as the capture antibody, Chlamydia pneumoniae can be detected in a
sensitivity of 108 cells/ml, while reactivity of other microorganisms cannot be detected.
Thus, an affinity column immobilized with the Ribosomal Protein L7/L12 of Chlamydia
pneumoniae confirmed the capturing an antibody having specific reactivity to Chlamydia
Industrial Applicability
According to the present invention, not only microorganisms can be detected species
specifically, but also microorganisms of all serotypes in the same species can be detected at
a high precision, by using antibodies to the evolutionary and functionally conserved
intracellular molecules.
By using antibodies to Ribosomal Proteins L7/L12 of microorganisms as such
antibodies, Chlamydia pneumoniae can be detected precisely.
Moreover, detection of microorganisms can be performed with higher precision and
wider applicability by using the reagent kit for detecting microorganisms comprising such
an antibody.
References Cited:
Patent Documents:
United States Patent No. 5,008,186, Grayston, et al. 1991 Detection of unique
Chlamydia strain associated with acute respiratory disease
United States Patent No. 5,281,518 Campbell, et al. 1994 Detection of a unique
Chlamydia strain associated with acute respiratory disease
United States Patent No. 5,350,673 Campbell, et al. 1994 Detection of a unique
Chlamydia strain associated with acute respiratory disease
Other Documents:
Batteiger, B. E., W. J. t. Newhall, et al. (1986). "Antigenic analysis of the major
outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis with murine monoclonal antibodies."
Infect Immun 53(3): 646-50.
Cles, L. D. and W. E. Stamm (1990). "Use of HL cells for improved isolation and
passage of Chlamydia pneumoniae." J Clin Microbiol 28(5): 938-40.
Essig, A., P. Zucs, et al. (1997). "Diagnosis of ornithosis by cell culture and
polymerase chain reaction in a patient with chronic pneumonia." Clin Diagn Lab Immunol
4(2): 213-6.
Godzik, K. L., E. R. O'Brien, et al. (1995). "In vitro susceptibility of human vascular
wall cells to infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae." J Clin Microbiol 33(9): 2411-4.
Hyman, C. L., P. M. Roblin, et al. (1995). "Prevalence of asymptomatic
nasopharyngeal carriage of Chlamydia pneumoniae in subjectively healthy adults:
assessment by polymerase chain reaction-enzyme immunoassay and culture." Clin Infect
Dis 20(5): 1174-8.
Kuo, C. C. and J. T. Grayston (1990). "A sensitive cell line, HL cells, for isolation
and propagation of Chlamydia pneumoniae strain TWAR." J Infect Dis 162(3): 755-8.
Peterson, E. M., X. Cheng, et al. (1993). "Functional and structural mapping of
Chlamydia trachomatis species- specific major outer membrane protein epitopes by use of
neutralizing monoclonal antibodies." J Gen Microbiol 139(Pt 11): 2621-6.
Peterson, E. M., L. M. de la Maza, et al. (1998). "Characterization of a neutralizing
monoclonal antibody directed at the lipopolysaccharide of Chlamydia pneumoniae." Scand J
Infect Dis 30(4): 381-6.
Thorn, D. H. and J. T. Grayston (1991). "Infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae
strain TWAR." Clin Chest Med 12(2): 245-56.
Verkooyen, R. P., N. A. Van Lent, et al. (1998). "Diagnosis of Chlamydia
pneumoniae infection in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by
micro-immunofluorescence and ELISA." Am Heart J 135(1): 15-20.
Yoshizawa, H., K. Dairiki, et al. (1992). "Comparison of sensitivity of Hep-2 cells
with that of HL cells against Chlamydia pneumoniae." Kansenshogaku Zasshi 66(8):
1037-41.
NCBI database accession #NC_000922. Kalman, S., Mitchell, W., Marathe, R,
Lammel, C, Fan, J., Olinger, L., Grimwood, J., Davis, R. W. and Stephens, R S.
NCBI database accession #AE001593.1. Kalman, S., Mitchell, W., Marathe, R,
Lammel, C, Fan, J., Olinger, L., Grimwood, J., Davis, R. W. and Stephens, R S.
Harlow, E., and D. Lane (1988). "Antibodies: A laboratory manual." New York.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Shambrook, J., E. F. Fritsch, and T. Maniatis. (1989). "Molecular Cloning: A
laboratory Manual (2nd ed.)." Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
WE CLAIM:
1. An antibody which is antibody to ribosomal protein of microorganism
belonging to Chlamydia pneumoniae and which reacts specifically with
ribosomal protein of said microoraganism, wherein said ribosomal
protein is ribosomal protein L7/L12.
2. The antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antibody is
monoclonal antibody or polyclonal antibody.
3. The antibody as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the
antibody is conjugated with an enzyme.
4. A reagent kit for detecting the microorganism belonging to Chlamydia
penumoniae, characterized by using the antibody defined in any of one
claims 1 to 3.
5. A method of preparing the antibody defined In any one of claims 1 to 3,
comprising: a step of obtaining ribosomal protein L7/L12 of
microorganism belonging to Chlamydia pneumoniae, a peptide moiety
thereof or a synthesized peptide corresponding to the peptide moiety,
by a gene manipulation procedure or by isolation and purification from
the microorganism,
a step of using said ribosomal protein L7/L12, peptide moiety thereof
or synthesized peptide as an immunogen to obtain a hybridoma which
can produce a monoclonal antibody, and
a step of selecting an antibody which reacts specifically with the target
microorganism.

A method of specifically, quickly and highly sensitively detecting a microorganism
belonging to Chlamydia pneumoniae; an antibody to be used in the detection; a detection
reagent kit; and a process for producing the antibody to be used in the detection. Namely, an
antibody against the ribosomal protein of a microorganism belonging to Chlamydia
pneumoniae which reacts specifically with this microorganism; a method of detecting this
microorganism in a specimen by using this antibody; and a detection reaction kit containing
this antibody. The ribosomal protein is exemplified by Ribosomal Protein L7L12 employed
in detecting the infection with a microorganism causative of pneumonia.

Documents:

IN-PCT-2002-965-KOL-FORM-27.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-abstract.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-claims.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-correspondence.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-examination report.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-form 1.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-form 18.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-form 2.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-form 26.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-form 3.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-form 5.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-gpa.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-sequence listing.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-specification.pdf

in-pct-2002-965-kol-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 233022
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2002/965/KOL
PG Journal Number 13/2009
Publication Date 27-Mar-2009
Grant Date 25-Mar-2009
Date of Filing 24-Jul-2002
Name of Patentee ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicant Address 2-6, DOJIMAHAMA 1-CHOME, KITA-KU, OSAKA-SHI, OSAKA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 RAMAN MONZUR COPO S 302, 390 BANCHI, AOBACHO, FUJI-SHI, SHIZUOKA 416-0952
2 ETOH TAKASHI 4306, 2424 9TH AVENUE, LONGMONT, CO 80502
PCT International Classification Number C07K 16/12
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2001/00625
PCT International Filing date 2001-01-31
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2000-62684 2000-01-31 Japan