title: Molecular dissection of the human B-cell response against Toxoplasma gondii infection by lambda display of cDNA libraries.
abstract: The disorders generated by Toxoplasma gondii infection are closely associated with the competence of the host immune system and both humoral and cell mediated immunity are involved in response to parasite invasion. To identify antigens implicated in human B-cell responses, we screened a phage-display library of T. gondii cDNA fragments with sera of infected individuals. This approach identified a panel of recombinant phage clones carrying B-cell epitopes. All the peptide sequences selected by this procedure are regions of T. gondii gene products. These regions contain epitopes of the T. gondii antigens SAG1, GRA1, GRA7, GRA8 and MIC5, which are recognised by human immunoglobulins. Moreover, we report the isolation and characterisation of two additional immunodominant regions encoded by GRA3 and MIC3 genes, whose products have never been described as antigens of the human B-cell response against T. gondii infection. These results demonstrate potential of lambda-display technology for antigen discovery and for the study of the human antibody response against infectious agents.
authors.affiliation: Kenton Laboratories, Via Pontina km 30.400, 00040 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beghetto
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spadoni
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Buffolano
authors.forename: Mariassunta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Pezzo
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Minenkova
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pavoni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Felici
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gargano
mesh_terms: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D000939:Epitopes