• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.367-376
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• 2014

Recombinant antigenic proteins of Toxoplasma gondii are alternative source of antigens which are easily obtainable for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. In this study, highly antigenic secretory organellar proteins, dense granular GRA2 and GRA3, rhoptrial ROP2, and micronemal MIC2, were analyzed by bioinformatics approach to express as water-soluble forms of antigenic domains. The transmembrane region and disorder tendency of 4 secretory proteins were predicted to clone the genes into pGEX-4T-1 vector. Recombinant plasmids were transformed into BL21 (DE3) pLysS E. coli, and GST fusion proteins were expressed with IPTG. As a result, GST fusion proteins with $GRA2_{25-105}$, $GRA3_{39-138}$, $ROP2_{324-561}$, and $MIC2_{1-284}$ domains had respectively higher value of IgG avidity. The $rGST-GRA2_{25-105}$ and $rGST-GRA3_{39-138}$ were soluble, while $rGST-ROP2_{324-561}$ and $rGST-MIC2_{1-284}$ were not. $GRA2_{31-71}$, intrinsically unstructured domain (IUD) of GRA2, was used as a linker to enhance the solubility. The $rGST-GRA2_{31-71}-ROP2_{324-561}$, a chimeric protein, appeared to be soluble. Moreover, $rGST-GRA2_{31-71}-MIC2_{1-284}$ was also soluble and had higher IgG avidity comparing to $rGST-MIC2_{1-284}$. These 4 highly expressed and water-soluble recombinant antigenic proteins may be promising candidates to improve the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in addition to the major surface antigen of SAG1.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.133-143
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• 2015

The antigenic proteins of Lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) from tumors of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, are described following characterization by mass spectrometry. In SDS-PAGE, predominant protein bands were observed at 114, 88, 70, 54, 52, 47, 42 and 24 kDa. Western blot analysis showed that antisera reacted strongly at molecular weights of 114, 67 and 54 kDa, and reacted weakly at molecular weights of 74, 70, 36, 24 and 22 kDa. In the identification of LCDV antigenic proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) TOF mass spectrometry, 10 of 14 excised bands consisted mostly of proteins with amino acid sequences that matched LCDV-C (lymphocystis disease virus isolate China) ORFs. Strong antigens with molecular weights of 114, 67 and 54 kDa were identified as LDVICp236 (chromosome segregation ATPase), LDVICp033 (membrane bound metallopeptidase) and LDVICp157 (hypothetical protein), respectively. Minor antigens with molecular weights of 70, 36, 24 and 22 kDa proteins were identified as LDVICp160 (acetyl-coA hydrolase), LDVICp213 (hypothetical protein), LDVICp039 (hypothetical protein) and LDVICp213 (hypothetical protein). However, the major capsid protein (LDVICp043) did not react with the polyclonal antibody.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 2015

Proteomic tools allow large-scale, high-throughput analyses for the detection, identification, and functional investigation of proteome. For detection of antigens from Haemaphysalis longicornis, 1-dimensional electrophoresis (1-DE) quantitative immunoblotting technique combined with 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) immunoblotting was used for whole body proteins from unfed and partially fed female ticks. Reactivity bands and 2-DE immunoblotting were performed following 2-DE electrophoresis to identify protein spots. The proteome of the partially fed female had a larger number of lower molecular weight proteins than that of the unfed female tick. The total number of detected spots was 818 for unfed and 670 for partially fed female ticks. The 2-DE immunoblotting identified 10 antigenic spots from unfed females and 8 antigenic spots from partially fed females. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) of relevant spots identified calreticulin, putative secreted WC salivary protein, and a conserved hypothetical protein from the National Center for Biotechnology Information and Swiss Prot protein sequence databases. These findings indicate that most of the whole body components of these ticks are non-immunogenic. The data reported here will provide guidance in the identification of antigenic proteins to prevent infestation and diseases transmitted by H. longicornis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.141-143
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• 2004

After collecting calcareous corpuscles from plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni (sparganum), we evaluated the antigenic values of calcareous corpuscles binding proteins obtained from the cyst fluid of Taenia solium metacestodes. Immunoblot analysis revealed that cysticercosis patient sera strongly recognized 10 and 95 kDa calcareous corpuscles binding proteins. This result demonstrated that calcareous corpuscles are bound with major secretory antigenic proteins, which is possibly involved in the secretory pathways of the 10 and 95 kDa proteins presenting in the cyst fluid of T. solium metacestodes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.789-793
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• 2015

In order to explore tick proteins as potential targets for further developing vaccine against ticks, the total proteins of unfed female Dermacentor silvarum were screened with anti-D. silvarum serum produced from rabbits. The results of western blot showed that 3 antigenic proteins of about 100, 68, and 52 kDa were detected by polyclonal antibodies, which means that they probably have immunogenicity. Then, unfed female tick proteins were separated by 12% SDS-PAGE, and target proteins (100, 68, and 52 kDa) were cut and analyzed by LC-MS/MS, respectively. The comparative results of peptide sequences showed that they might be vitellogenin (Vg), heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60), and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA), respectively. These data will lay the foundation for the further validation of antigenic proteins to prevent infestation and diseases transmitted by D. silvarum.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.288-295
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• 2015

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is the predominant agent causing salmonellosis in chickens and other domestic animals. In an attempt to identify antigenic S. Enteritidis outer membrane proteins (OMPs) that may be useful for subunit vaccine development, we established a proteomic map and database of antigenic S. Enteritidis OMPs. In total, 351 and 301 spots respectively from S. Enteritidis strain 270 and strain 350 were detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Fifty-one antigen-reactive spots were detected by antisera on two-dimensional immunoblots and identified as 12 specific proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. OmpA and DNA starvation/stationary phase protection protein (Dps) were the most abundant proteins among the identified OMPs, comprising 22 and 12 protein species, respectively. Interestingly, we found that the Dps of S. Enteritidis is also antigenic. OmpW was also verified to have high antigenicity. These results show that OmpA, Dps, and possibly OmpW are antigenic proteins. This study provides new insights into our understanding of the immunogenic characteristics of S. Enteritidis OMPs.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2005

Plants have considerable advantages for the production of antigenic proteins because they provide an inexpensive source of protein and an easy administration of vaccine. Since a publication describing edible plant vaccine of HBsAg in 1992, a number of laboratories around the world have studied the use of plants as the bioreactor to produce antigenic proteins of human or animal pathogens. Over the last ten years, these works have been mainly focused on three major strategies for the production of antigenic proteins in plants: stable genetic transformation of either the nuclear or plastid genome, or transient expression in plants using viral vectors. As many antigenic proteins have been expressed in tobacco, also several laboratories have succeeded to express genes encoding antigenic proteins in other crop plants: potato, tomato, maize, carrot, soybean and spinach. At present many works for the production of edible plant vaccine against bacteria-mediated diseases have mostly performed the studies of enterotoxins and adhesion proteins. Also the development of new-type antigens (pili, flagella, surface protein, other enterotoxin and exotoxin etc.) is required for various targets and more efficacy to immunize against microorganism pathogens. Many works mostly studied in experimental animals had good results, and phase I clinical trial of LTB clearly indicated its immunogenic ability. On the other hand, edible plant vaccines have still problems remained to be solved. In addition to the accumulation of sufficient antigen in plants, human health, environment and agriculture regulation should be proven. Also oral tolerance, the physiological response to food antigens and commensal flora is the induction of a state of specific immunological unresponsiveness, needs to be addressed before plant-derived vaccine becomes a therapeutic option.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 1993

Surface proteins of Trichomonqs unginnlis (T vqsinalis) were analyzed to study the antigenic variation. The surface proteins of protozoa were labelled by N- hydrokysuccinimide-biotin (NHS-biotins, the NHS-biotin-labelled proteins were immunoprecipitated with rabbit antiserum to purifjr the antigenic fractions and analysed by SDS-PAGE plus electroblotting. The results obtained in this study were as follows; Biotinylated T. uaginalis-proteins obtained from intact cell and cells disrupted prior to labelling were detected by antibiotin-peroxidase in Western blots. Labelled proteins were immunoprecipitated by T. vcqinalis-immunized rabbit serum and the six bands with, the molecular weights of 46, 60, 68, 90, 130 and 220 kDa were identified as having antigenicity. T unginalis HY-1,HY-15 and ATCC 50148 were immunoprecipitated by immune rabbit serum after biotinylation and there were no difference from antigenic bands among these strains by this tehchnique. In conclusion with the results obtained in the present study, it was assumed that surface proteins of T vaqinclis were labelled by biotinylation and the six labelled bands at 46, 60, 68, 90, 130 and 220 kDa in their molecular weight were identified as having antigenicity by immunoprecipitation (IPI and this biotinylation-IP technique may be used for further study of surface antigen of T vaginalis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 2001

In the course of Clonorchis sinensis infection, antigens presented to the hosts may be in a close relation to growth of the fluke. The antigenic proteins stimulating IgG antibody production were chronologically identified by immunoblot and localized by immunogistochemical staining. In the early stage of infection until 12 weeks post-infection (PI) , antigens were proteins with molecular mass larger than 34 kDa which were derived from the tegument, testes and intrauterine eggs. After 20 weeks PI antigens recognized were 29, 27 and 26 kDa proteins from the intestine, excretory bladder and reproductive organs. It is suggested that the tegumental proteins are the most potent antigens and the excretory-secretory proteins with middle molecular mass of 26-45 kDa contribute to the high level production of antibodies after 20 weeks of the C. sinensis infection.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1998

We have previously demonstrated that specific antigens involved in autoimmunity in endometriosis may be endometrial proteins with molecular weight (mw) of 71, 92, and 103 kilodalton (kDa). The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of IgG antibodies against these endometrial antigens in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis and to evaluate the antigenic differences between the endometria of patients with and without endometriosis. Forty peritoneal fluid (PF) from 24 patients with endometriosis and 16 patients without endometriosis (control patients) were tested against endometrial protein from patients (n=8) with endometriosis and from control patients (n=10) by western blot. Fifteen (62.5%) of 24 PF samples from patients with endometriosis had specific Immunoglobuiin (Ig) G antibodies against one of three endometrial proteins with mw of 71, 92 and 103 kDa but none of PF samples from control patients had these antibodies. The electrophoretic pattern of endometrial proteins from patients with endometriosis was similiar to that from control patients. Furthemore there was no significant difference in specific PF Immunoglobulin G binding to endometrial proteins regardless of origin of these proteins. Our data indicate that specific humoral immune response can be found in PF of patients with endometriosis and that specific antigens inducing this immune response are present in human endometrium and that there is no antigenic difference between the endometria of patients with and without endometriosis.