[The protein-binding properties of Treponema].

A new type of substances is described, related to T. pallidum cultural strain structure and interacting with human and animal blood serum proteins, named T-PBC. T-PBC were found to react with albumin, immunoglobulins G, M, and A, fibronectin, CIg component of human blood serum complement, goat and bovine blood serum immunoglobulins. When injected to animals, T-PBC induced production of specific antibodies identifying 4 components in T-PBC, 2 of these components being resistant to heating at 100 degrees C for 5 min. All these components could be stained with protein stains.