Biotin-labeled proteins of Eimeria tenella sporozoite

To identify surface proteins of eimerian sporozoite, Eimeria tenella sporozoites were labeled with biotin-LC-hydrazide, and analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and Western blotting. More than 200 sporozoite proteins were recognized with silver staining after 2D-PAGE. Among them, 7 biotin-labeled proteins were detected as surface molecules after Western blotting and reaction with horseradish peroxidase conjugated streptavidin. Their molecular masses ranged from 23 to 117 kilo daltons and their isoelectric points from 4.3 to 6.3. It appears that the biotin-labeling technique can be used to analyze of surface proteins of eimerian parasites.