Characterization of a Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoite glycoprotein

Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed against Cryptosporidium oocysts or sporozoites were developed to identify and characterize sporozoite pellicle and apical complex antigens. A very large glycoprotein of Cryptosporidium sporozoites was identified by three monoclonal antibodies that also reacted with intracellular merozoites. The glycoprotein was also identified by polyclonal antibodies that were affinity-purified on nitrocellulose-bound recombinant proteins expressed by four lambda gtll genomic clones.