[Western blotting analysis of specific antigens from different components of Echinococcus metacestodes].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze antigens for searching specific antigenic components for immunodiagnosis of echinococcosis.


METHODS
Fourteen crude antigens from different tissues (cyst fluid, protoscoleces, laminated layer and germinal layer) of Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis metacestodes and other 4 species of cestodes were analyzed by Western blotting. The differences of protein bands were compared for the 14 crude antigens by reacting with pooled sera from cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) patients.


RESULTS
Eleven protein bands from the antigens reacted nonspecifically with sera from both CE and AE patients were Mr 130000, 100000, 94000, 80000, 75000, 66000, 62000, 52000, 38000, 32000, 24000. The highly specific protein bands recognized by AE sera were Mr 120000, 109000, 86000, 59000, 43000, 28000, 20000, 18000, and by CE sera were Mr 41000, 40000, 22000, 16000 and 12000.


CONCLUSIONS
Different antigens shared by the two species of Echinococcus were examined and potential antigenic proteins specific for AE or CE sera were found, providing useful information for further identifying specific antigens for immunodiagnosis.
Jiang
Li
L
Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai 200025, China.
Xue
Hai-chou
HC
Qiu
Li-shu
LS
Feng
Zheng
Z
D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans
D000947:Antigens, Helminth