Identification of immunodominant peptides from Gnathostoma binucleatum

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Nov;87(5):888-96. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0233. Epub 2012 Sep 4.

Abstract

Gnathostomiasis is now recognized as a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution. In the Americas, it is caused by the third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma binucleatum and in Asia mainly by G. spinigerum. The availability and preparation of specific antigens are among the main obstacles for developing reliable immunodiagnostic tests. In this study, six immunodominant peptides were identified and characterized from G. binucleatum, somatic antigens (AgS: 24, 32, and 40 kDa) and excretory-secretory antigens (AgES: 42, 44, and 56 kDa) by two-dimensional immunoblot analysis. Among those immunodominant peptides, two AgS spots were characterized by mass spectrometric analysis (32 kDa; pI 6.3 and 6.5) and identified as type 1 galectins. In accordance with this finding, a fraction of AgS exhibited affinity to lactose and displayed a 100% specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of human gnathostomiasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Gnathostoma / immunology*
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / chemistry*
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • Peptides