IgG and
IgM antibody specificities for
antigens of Treponema pallidum Nichols strain were determined by using
sodium dodecyl sulfate-
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the western blot technique in sera from patients with untreated
syphilis, normal persons, persons with
biologic false-positive tests for
syphilis, and sexual contacts of persons with infectious
syphilis.
IgG reactivities of sera from individuals with
primary syphilis varied considerably but consistently exhibited strong reactivity to a 48-kilodalton band. Sera from patients with secondary and early
latent syphilis uniformly demonstrated reactivity to 22 separate
polypeptide antigens; decreased reactivity was seen in late
latent syphilis. Normal and
biologic false-positive sera showed weak
IgG reactivity against none to 12
polypeptides. Sera from asymptomatic contacts of persons with infectious
syphilis showed reactivity to a varying number of treponemal
antigens, including some reactions not seen with normal sera.
IgM reactivity was most prominent in
secondary syphilis but was demonstrable at all stages of disease.