This approach allowed: (1) achievement of the most comprehensive T. pallidum proteome coverage to date, with detection of the majority of the predicted/known OMP repertoire, including several OMPs that are being pursued as syphilis vaccine candidates; and (2) identification of genome/proteome annotation inaccuracies that erroneously exclude expressed T. pallidum proteins and mis-identify sites of protein translation initiation. Here, OMP is linked to syphilis.