Expression of two conserved leptospiral antigens in Escherichia coli.

The genes encoding two protein antigens of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Rabbit antisera raised against the cloned proteins, designated p12 and p20, were used to identify the antigens in Western blots of disrupted leptospiral cells. The proteins p12 and p20 were conserved within the genus Leptospira and were not detected in Leptonema illini. Although both proteins were present in leptospiral outer envelope preparations they did not elicit the production of agglutinating or opsonising antibodies.