TY - JOUR
T1 - Identification of a sporozoite-specific antigen from toxoplasma gondii
AU - Hill, Dolores
AU - Coss, Cathleen
AU - Dubey, J. P.
AU - Wroblewski, Kristen
AU - Sautter, Mari
AU - Hosten, Tiffany
AU - Muñoz-Zanzi, Claudia
AU - Mui, Ernest
AU - Withers, Shawn
AU - Boyer, Kenneth
AU - Hermes, Gretchen
AU - Coyne, Jessica
AU - Jagdis, Frank
AU - Burnett, Andrew
AU - McLeod, Patrick
AU - Morton, Holmes
AU - Robinson, Donna
AU - McLeod, Rima
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Reduction of risk for human and food animal infection with Toxoplasma gondii is hampered by the lack of epidemiological data documenting the predominant routes of infection (oocyst vs. tissue cyst consumption) in horizontally transmitted toxoplasmosis. Existing serological assays can determine previous exposure to the parasite, but not the route of infection. We have used difference gel electrophoresis, in combination with tandem mass spectroscopy and Western blot, to identify a sporozoite-specific protein (T. gondii embryogenesis-related protein [TgERP]), which elicited antibody and differentiated oocyst- versus tissue cyst-induced infection in pigs and mice. The recombinant protein was selected from a cDNA library constructed from T. gondii sporozoites; this protein was used in Western blots and probed with sera from T. gondii-infected humans. Serum antibody to TgERP was detected in humans within 6-8mo of initial oocyst-acquired infection. Of 163 individuals in the acute stage of infection (anti-T. gondii IgM detected in sera, or <30 in the IgG avidity test), 103 (63.2%) had detectable antibodies that reacted with TgERP. Of 176 individuals with unknown infection route and in the chronic stage of infection (no anti-T. gondii IgM detected in sera, or >30 in the IgG avidity test), antibody to TgERP was detected in 31 (17.6%). None of the 132 uninfected individuals tested had detectable antibody to TgERP. These data suggest that TgERP may be useful in detecting exposure to sporozoites in early T. gondii infection and implicates oocysts as the agent of infection.
AB - Reduction of risk for human and food animal infection with Toxoplasma gondii is hampered by the lack of epidemiological data documenting the predominant routes of infection (oocyst vs. tissue cyst consumption) in horizontally transmitted toxoplasmosis. Existing serological assays can determine previous exposure to the parasite, but not the route of infection. We have used difference gel electrophoresis, in combination with tandem mass spectroscopy and Western blot, to identify a sporozoite-specific protein (T. gondii embryogenesis-related protein [TgERP]), which elicited antibody and differentiated oocyst- versus tissue cyst-induced infection in pigs and mice. The recombinant protein was selected from a cDNA library constructed from T. gondii sporozoites; this protein was used in Western blots and probed with sera from T. gondii-infected humans. Serum antibody to TgERP was detected in humans within 6-8mo of initial oocyst-acquired infection. Of 163 individuals in the acute stage of infection (anti-T. gondii IgM detected in sera, or <30 in the IgG avidity test), 103 (63.2%) had detectable antibodies that reacted with TgERP. Of 176 individuals with unknown infection route and in the chronic stage of infection (no anti-T. gondii IgM detected in sera, or >30 in the IgG avidity test), antibody to TgERP was detected in 31 (17.6%). None of the 132 uninfected individuals tested had detectable antibody to TgERP. These data suggest that TgERP may be useful in detecting exposure to sporozoites in early T. gondii infection and implicates oocysts as the agent of infection.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955586964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79955586964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1645/GE-2782.1
DO - 10.1645/GE-2782.1
M3 - Article
C2 - 21506817
AN - SCOPUS:79955586964
SN - 0022-3395
VL - 97
SP - 328
EP - 337
JO - Journal of Parasitology
JF - Journal of Parasitology
IS - 2
ER -