Antibodies to Protein but Not Glycolipid Structures Are Important for Host Defense against Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Antibody responses to () correlate with pulmonary clearance. However, -specific IgG antibodies can cross-react with the myelin glycolipid galactocerebroside (GalC) and cause neurologic disorders. We assessed whether anti-glycolipid antibody formation is part of the physiological immune response to We show that antibodies against -proteins and -glycolipids arise in serum of -infected children and mice. Although antibodies to -glycolipids were mainly IgG, anti-GalC antibodies were only of IgM. B-1a cells, shown to aid in protection against pathogen-derived glycolipids, are lacking in Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk)-deficient mice. -infected Btk-deficient mice developed -specific IgG responses to -proteins but not to -glycolipids, including GalC. The equal recovery from infection in Btk-deficient as wild-type mice suggests that pulmonary clearance is predominantly mediated by IgG reactive with -proteins and that -glycolipid-specific IgG or IgM is not essential. These data will guide development of -targeting vaccines avoiding induction of neurotoxic antibodies.