Identification and synthesis of a major conserved antigenic epitope of Trypanosoma cruzi.
A gene sequence encoding an immunodominant protein with a repetitive epitope from the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, was cloned and expressed. The identified 10-amino acid repeat is present within a high-molecular-weight trypomastigote antigen that appears specific to and conserved among T. cruzi isolates. More importantly, greater than 95% of T. cruzi infection sera, including both chronic and acute Chagas disease, contained elevated levels of antibody to a 15-amino acid synthetic peptide bearing the repetitive B-cell epitope. Considering the wide diversity of T. cruzi parasites, as well as the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations of Chagas disease, such a prevalent immune response among patients is significant and applicable to the control of Chagas disease through the diagnosis of T. cruzi infection.
Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, WA 98109.
J M
JM
Burns
W G
WG
Shreffler
D E
DE
Rosman
P R
PR
Sleath
C J
CJ
March
S G
SG
Reed
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000939:Epitopes; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000939:Epitopes; D010455:Peptides; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic