Antigenic properties of Chlamydia trachomatis lipopolysaccharide.

The antigenic properties of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Chlamydia trachomatis L2 were investigated. By means of passive hemolysis, passive hemolysis inhibition, and absorption experiments, it was shown that antiserum raised against chlamydial elementary bodies contained at least two different antibody specificities which reacted with different antigenic determinants of chlamydial LPS. One of these antibodies cross-reacted with enterobacterial Re LPS, recognizing a structure which is shared by both LPSs, whereas the reactivity of the second antibody was restricted to chlamydial LPS. The former antibody could be absorbed with Salmonella minnesota Re LPS, whereas the latter was not affected by this absorption. Therefore, chlamydial LPS possesses two distinct antigenic determinants, one of which is C. trachomatis specific, the other of which is responsible for the cross-reactivity with enterobacterial Re-type LPS. Both antigenic determinants were destroyed during mild acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. It was further shown that free chlamydial lipid A exhibits antigenicity that cross-reacts with free enterobacterial lipid A. This antigenicity, however, as in enterobacterial LPS, is present in a cryptic form, i.e., it is unmasked only after acid hydrolysis of LPS.