Antigen expression from cloned genes of Mycoplasma hyorhinis: an approach to mycoplasma genomic analysis.

Cloned DNA segments of the Mycoplasma hyorhinis genome have been identified by specific immunological detection of gene products expressed in Escherichia coli. Individual, distinct segments collectively representing greater than 10% of the genome each synthesize multiple proteins, some of which are immunogenic. Molecular genetic and immunologic tools have identified mycoplasma genomic fragments useful in 1) generating and analyzing specific, isolated mycoplasma gene products, 2) studying structure and expression of specific mycoplasma genes, and 3) generating specific gene probes. Immunological detection provides the potential for preselection of specific genes of interest.