Antigens of Cryptosporidium sporozoites recognized by immune sera of infected animals and humans

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 135 - 143
• Main Authors: Mead, J.R, Arrowood, M.J, Sterling, C.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS American Society of Parasitologists 01-02-1988
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Protozoan - analysis; Antibodies, Protozoan - immunology; ANTIGENE; ANTIGENOS; ANTIGENS; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Antigens, Surface - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; BLOOD SERUM; CALVES; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - immunology; Coccidia - immunology; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidiosis - immunology; CRYPTOSPORIDIUM; Cryptosporidium - immunology; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENERO HUMANO; GENRE HUMAIN; Horse Diseases - immunology; Horses; Humans; IMMUNITE; IMMUNITY; Immunoassay; Immunology; Infections; INMUNIDAD; MANKIND; Memory interference; Microbiology; Mycology; Oocysts; Pathogenicity, host-agent relations, miscellaneous strains, epidemiology; Peptides - immunology; Reactivity; SERUM SANGUIN; Sporozoites; SUERO SANGUINEO; TERNERO; VEAU; Antigen; Human; Protozoa; Cryptosporidium; Antiserum; Animal; Sporozoit; Monoclonal antibody; Pathogen; Sporozoa
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.2307/3282489

The humoral response of humans, calves, and horses to Cryptosporidium sporozoite antigens was evaluated using a western blot technique. Sera from calves, humans, and horses were obtained at various times following the detection of infection. Sera were reacted with detergent-solubilized, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresed (SDS-PAGE) sporozoite antigens. The number of antigens recognized by immune sera from humans and animals increased with time postinfection. A 20-kDa antigen appears to be a major sporozoite surface determinant labeled via membrane protein biotinylation and recognized by mouse monoclonal antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence and western blotting. Detectable recognition of the 20-kDa band occurred in 3-wk postinfection (PI) sera from all species tested. Reactivity to the 20-kDa band diminished significantly in sera 5 mo PI or longer from infected humans with no known recurrence of cryptosporidial diarrhea. In contrast, 12-mo PI sera from an individual constantly exposed to oocysts under working conditions was as strongly reactive as the 3-wk convalescent sera. Serum reactivity to the 20-kDa antigen appears to be a good indicator of exposure to Cryptosporidium.