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

Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause a variety of diseases ranging from asym ptomatic infections to serious conditions in immunocompromised hosts such a s AIDS-patients or transplant recipients. In addition they may cause aborti on or fetal abnormalities during pregnancy. Despite the clinical importance , diagnosis, treatment and prevention still remain unsatisfactory. Analysis of the parasitic cell determinants, recognized by specific humoral and cel lular immune responses, may have important implications for diagnosis, ther apy and vaccination strategies. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to resolve and compare protein patterns from Toxoplasma gondii strains RH and BK (mouse virulent strains). Comparison of silver-stained gels show ed that 35.2% to 60.3% of the spots had the same position. In a second seri es of experiments, the reactivity of the spots with human sera was tested. Proteins were transferred to PVDF membranes and were detected with sera fro m different patient groups. Depending upon the immunoglobulin class (IgG, I gM, IgA or IE) different epitope patterns were observed. Some of the spots seemed to be recognized in different stages of infection. Sera of two patie nts with similar serology and comparable stage of infection were compared i n order to demonstrate an individual immune response. (C) 1999 Federation o f European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.