title: Trypanosoma cruzi glycoprotein of M(r) 56,000 characterization and assessment of its potential to protect against fatal parasite infections.
abstract: A approximately 56,000 Da membrane glycoprotein purified from epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi was characterized biochemically and tested for its efficacy to induce protection in mice from a lethal challenge with this protozoan parasite. Immunofluorescence assays with live and formalin-fixed epimastigotes and trypomastigotes localized the glycoprotein to the flagellum, the body of the parasite, and the cell membrane. Immunoblotting demonstrated the glycoprotein's presence in nearly equal amounts in all developmental stages of several T. cruzi isolates. Mice immunized with the purified glycoprotein and challenged with 10,000 infectious trypomastigote forms of isolate Y survived the controls by up to four days. This significant protection makes this antigen a potential candidate for a multi-subunit vaccine against T. cruzi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles 90024-1680.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harth
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Araujo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005407:Flagella / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins