Expression, characterization and serological reactivity of a 41 kDa excreted-secreted antigen (ESA) from Toxoplasma gondii

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1998 Nov 30;97(1-2):109-21. doi: 10.1016/s0166-6851(98)00138-8.

Abstract

A Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite expression library was screened with immune sera from T. gondii infected patients. Among others, one gene product reacted strongly with human sera and was further investigated. The gene called B10 was shown to encode a 41 kDa antigen. The complete genomic nucleotide sequence of the B10 protein has been analysed and was shown to contain one intron with conserved splice junctions. Southern blot analysis indicated that B10 is a single-copy gene. The corresponding 1.5 kb cDNA encodes a 318 amino acid sequence of mainly hydrophilic character with a putative signal sequence of 19 amino acids and no further trans-membrane domain. Immunofluorescence assays and immunoblots with a preparation of excreted-secreted antigens (ESA) suggested that the native protein is secreted into the parasitophorous vacuole and its delimiting membrane, indicating that B10 is a member of the ESA family of T. gondii. Recombinant B10 protein exhibited a strong reactivity with human serum samples both in ELISA and in immunoblots.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antigens, Protozoan / chemistry
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Southern / methods
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Complementary / analysis
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Genes, Protozoan*
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis / parasitology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • B10 antigen, Toxoplasma gondii
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AJ223585