Analysis of the antigen-antibody specificity in the semen of patients with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Abstract

This study was done to define the human genital immune response to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The semen specimens were obtained from 15 patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infection in the acute and convalescent phases and 15 men with uninfected control. After precipitated with amoniasulfate, the semen was tested against the outer membrane protein of gonococcal isolates from the same patients to examine antigen-antibody interactions by use of the western blot technique. The antibodies in the semen reacted with more gonococcal antigens in the acute phase than in the convalescent phase. IgA in the semen reacted with more antigens than did IgG in the same specimens. The predominant reacted antigens were protein I, protein II, 46-48, kD, 14-16 kD and 88-90 kD protein.