title: Strain and stage specific variation in Toxoplasma gondii antigens.
abstract: The antigenic profile of virulent (RH, ENT, Martin) and avirulent (RRA, DEG, ME49) Toxoplasma strains was compared directly by western blotting using a panel of immune mouse sera. Dominant antigens of approximate MR 30-33, 21 and 25 x 10(3) were common to tachyzoites of all strains, however, there were significant quantitative and qualitative differences in the antigen profiles, indicating a moderate degree of strain specific polymorphism in tachyzoite antigens. We found no specific association between antigenic variation and strain virulence. Comparison of tachyzoite and bradyzoite antigens from homologous strains (RRA, DEG, ME49) confirmed the existence of stage specific antigens and demonstrated a conserved antigen profile among bradyzoites.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, Miall Building, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Appleford
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan