title: Identification of a tryptophan-like epitope borne by the variable surface glycoprotein (VSG) of African trypanosomes.
abstract: Antibodies (Ab) directed against a tryptophan-like epitope (WE) were previously detected in patients with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). We investigated whether or not these Ab resulted from immunization against trypanosome antigen(s) expressing a WE. By Western blotting, we identified an antigen having an apparent molecular weight ranging from 60 to 65 kDa, recognized by purified rabbit anti-WE Ab. This antigen, present in trypomastigote forms, was absent in procyclic forms and Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. Using purified variable surface glycoproteins (VSG) from various trypanosomes, we showed that VSG was the parasite antigen recognized by these rabbit Ab. Anti-WE and anti-VSG Ab were purified from HAT sera by affinity chromatography. Immunoreactivity of purified antibodies eluted from affinity columns and of depleted fractions showed that WE was one of the epitopes borne by VSG. These data underline the existence of an invariant WE in the structure of VSG from several species of African trypanosomes.
authors.affiliation: EA 3677 Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semballa
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Okomo-Assoumou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holzmuller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Büscher
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magez
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lemesre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daulouede
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtois
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geffard
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vincendeau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000276:immunology*; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000276:immunology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000276:immunology; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000939:Epitopes; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma