Strain-specific antigens of Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract

A detailed immunological assessment of strain-specific antigens of Toxoplasma gondii has not been reported. We developed rabbit antisera against three strains of toxoplasma obtained from divergent sources. These strains included the frequently studied laboratory strain RH, strain C, obtained from a naturally infected kitten, and strain P, which is maintained by passage in mice. The rabbit antisera were used to identify unique strain-specific and commonly shared tachyzoite antigens by radioiodination followed by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative differences of a number of the major tachyzoite antigens were found in these assays. A parasite plaque reduction assay using parasiticidal monoclonal antibody showed marked differences in the ability to kill these three different tachyzoite subtypes, further supporting antigenic variation among T. gondii strains.

Isolation and characterization of a monoclonal anti‐P30 antibody resistant mutant of Toxoplasma gondii

“…We in agreement with others have demonstrated, by western blot analysis, that periodate treatment drastically reduces the quantitative reactivity of protein P30 (Sharma e f ul. 1983, Ware & Kasper 1987. Although indirect, these observations would suggest that protein glycosylation is important for anti-P30 antibody recognition.…”

Toxoplasma gondii infection: analysis of serological response by 2-DE immunoblotting

“…Because the data in the literature concerning 2-DE of T. gondii are limited, it was di¤cult to compare our data with other described antigens of T. gondii, which were mainly received by Western blotting; this means in one dimension only. We found a lot of spots and spot groups with a range of molecular masses comparable to the known proteins e.g., P22, P23, P30, P35, P37, P39, P42, P45, P73 and P83, which were described by Ware [21], Huskinson [22] and Moir [23]. Further characterization has to be done, to prove the identity.…”

“…In case of IgA the reaction was more frequent in groups 1 and 2 as expected. Antibodies present in the other materials, like the amniotic £uid, the cord blood sample and the cerebrospinal £uid (CSF), reacted with the same spots [3,7,9,10,13,16,21,25,32,35] which were most frequently detected by all four immunoglobulin classes present in the patients sera. Only a few particularities were observed: Spot 1 gave positive responses exclusively with IgG.…”

Toxoplasma gondiiinfection: analysis of serological response by 2-DE immunoblotting

“…Antibodies present in the other materials, like the amniotic fluid, the cord blood sample and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), reacted with the same spots [3,7,9,10,13,16,21,25,32,35] which were most frequently detected by all four immunoglobulin classes present in the patients sera. Only a few particularities were observed: Spot 1 gave positive responses exclusively with IgG.…”