The causative agent of Syphilis is a bacterium: Treponema pallidum.

 

The immune responses to T. pallidum are primarily mediated by the following membrane lipoproteins: TpN47, TpN17, TpN15 and TmpA.

 

TpN47 is highly immunogenic and activates endothelial cells, while TpN17 and TpN15 induce antibody responses. In independent studies, TmpA is the most frequently identified antigen (95%) while the remaining are recognised with the following prevalence:

 

• TpN47, 92.5%

• TpN17, 89.5%

• TpN15, 67.5%