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11:17
Obtaining Highly Purified Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts by a Discontinuous Cesium Chloride Gradient
Published on: November 3, 2009
[Composition of circulating immune complexes in acute toxoplasmosis]
Meditsinskaia Parazitologiia I Parazitarnye Bolezni
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Circulating immune complexes (CIC) are detectable in toxoplasmosis patients and their antigenic makeup varies by disease stage. Detecting specific CIC and their composition could aid in diagnosing acute toxoplasmosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Circulating immune complexes (CIC) are implicated in early Toxoplasma gondii invasion.
- Data on the antigenic composition of CIC in toxoplasmosis is limited and conflicting.
- Accurate detection and characterization of CIC are crucial for understanding toxoplasmosis pathogenesis.
Purpose:
- To detect specific CIC containing T. gondii tachyzoite antigens in human sera using enzyme immunoassay (EIA).
- To analyze the antigenic composition of these CIC via immunoblotting.
- To evaluate the diagnostic potential of CIC detection and characterization in toxoplasmosis.
Summary:
- Investigated 464 sera from individuals with varying T. gondii invasion stages.
- CIC were detected in all stages, with higher frequencies in congenital toxoplasmosis and seropositive pregnant women (IgG/IgM).
- Immunoblotting revealed distinct T. gondii antigen profiles in CIC, primarily excretory-secretory antigens (ESA) of tachyzoites, varying with disease stage.
Impact:
- Demonstrates the presence and diagnostic utility of specific CIC in T. gondii infections.
- Highlights variations in CIC antigenic composition correlating with disease progression.
- Suggests CIC detection and analysis as a potential additional diagnostic tool for acute toxoplasmosis.
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