RECOMBINANT TREPONEMA PALLIDUM ANTIGENS 
*Recombinant Treponema Pallidum p15 Antigen (code AW 6058) *Recombinant Treponema Pallidum p17 Antigen (code AW 6063)
*Recombinant Treponema Pallidum p47 Antigen (code BU 6164)
We are pleased to announce the availability of these new recombinant p15 and p17 antigens which represent key epitopes of T. pallidum. These new antigens are suitable for the detection of syphilis by serological immunoassays.

Syphilis is a disease caused by infection with the spirochete bacterium T. pallidum, ordinarily transmitted by sexual contact. However, it can also be transmitted congenitally by transplacental passage of T. pallidum to the foetus and by blood transfusion.

The serological diagnosis of syphilis is performed to demonstrate the presence or absence of significant levels of specific T. pallidum antibodies in the serum sample. The reference method used is the Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption (FTA-ABS) test which allows the detection of both IgG and IgM antibodies. However, its execution is laborious and the interpretation of results is complicated. Alternative methods have therefore been introduced to simplify the procedure : reaction with lipoidal antigens (the reagin test) or agglutination of erythrocytes coated with specific T. pallidum antigens (TPHA test). The TPHA test is the preferred technique for screening purposes because it detects specific IgG and IgM antibodies. Unfortunately, the result of the test is determined by subjective interpretation and cannot be completely automated. By contrast, our recombinant T. pallidum p15 and p17 antigens allow screening for specific IgG and IgM antibodies by an ELISA technique which can be fully automated. Syphilis detection by ELISA is a low-cost method which is perfectly correlated with the TPHA test.

The use of our recombinant T. pallidum antigens in serological immunoassays such as ELISA provides considerable advantages over conventional native antigens derived from T. pallidum cell suspensions

 * The higher relative purity of the recombinant versus native antigens increases specificity in syphilis immunoassays.
* No sorbent (extract from non-pathogenic Treponema species) is required in immunoassays thereby reducing test costs.                                                                    
* Eliminates the need for expensive purification of specific T. pallidum antigens from cell suspensions.
* Superior lot to lot antigen consistency results in improved immunoassay reproducibility.