Pa. Rojas et al., Expression of a cDNA encoding a Toxoplasma gondii protein belonging to theheat-shock 90 family and analysis of its antigenicity, FEMS MICROB, 190(2), 2000, pp. 209-213
A cDNA clone (Tgzy85d11.r1) obtained from the Toxoplasma Expressed Sequence
Tag project was chosen due to its homology with proteins of the heat shock
90 family. The cDNA encodes 137 amino acids of the C-terminal portion of t
he Toxoplasma Hsp90 protein (TgHsp90). Serum samples obtained from orally i
nfected BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice showed reactivity against a recombinant TgH
sp90 (rTgHsp90) after 8 weeks postinfection. Isotype analysis showed an ant
i-rTgHsp90 TgG2a/IgG3 response in infected BALB/c and anti rTgHsp90 IgG1/Ig
G2a/IgG2b response in infected C57BL/B mice. Serum samples from individuals
chronically and putative acutely infected with T. gondii showed a similar
anti-rTgHsp90 IgG response. Our work identifies TgHsp90 as a novel parasite
antigen that seems to elicit a higher relation of anti-TgHsp90/anti-T. gon
dii IgGs during chronic infection in comparison with the acute stage. (C) 2
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