Rabbit serum against K1 peptide, an immunogenic epitope of the Trypanosoma cruzi KMP-11, decreases parasite invasion to cells.
KMP-11 is a highly conserved protein of Trypanosoma cruzi implicated in parasite's motility. Here we show that K1, a peptide derived from KMP-11, induced polyclonal antibodies capable of decreasing T. cruzi infection in vitro. Rabbit sera rose against K1 peptide showed recognition of the recombinant protein by ELISA and Western blot and also of the native protein in both epimastigotes and trypomastigotes as evaluated by immunofluorescence test and flow cytometry. Invasion assays showed a significant reduction of trypomastigotes infection of eukaryotic cells when parasites were pre-incubated with anti-K1 rabbit serum. Computational modeling predicted that the K1 sequence conserved its α-helical configuration into the protein, and some of the amino acid residues appear accessible for recognition by antibodies in vivo. Taken together, these results support the idea that the K1 peptide induces antibodies than can have a potential role in protective immunity in Chagas disease.
Grupo de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
Juan Camilo
JC
Diaz-Soto
Paola
P
Lasso
Fanny
F
Guzmán
Manu
M
Forero-Shelton
Maria Del Carmen
Mdel C
Thomas
Manuel Carlos
MC
López
Felipe
F
Guhl
Adriana
A
Cuellar
Concepción Judith
CJ
Puerta
John M
JM
González
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D014709:Vero Cells
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D000939:Epitopes