Peptide-Based Monoclonal Antibody Production Against SAG1 (P30) Protein of Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals. Humans as an intermediate host are infected by ingesting infectious oocytes or tissue cysts, or passing through the placenta in pregnant women. The aim of this study is producing monoclonal antibodies against a synthetic peptide from (surface antigen 1 [SAG1] or P30) protein of T. gondii. A synthetic peptide from SAG1 (P30) protein was conjugated to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH (and then used for immunization of two BALB/c mice. The produced antibody was purified by affinity chromatography and its specific interaction with the immunized peptide was then determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunoreactivity of the antibody was also tested by Western blot in T. gondii cell lysate. The results show that the produced antibody has excellent reactivity with the immunizing peptide and also detects a single band of 30 kDa, which corresponds to SAG1 protein. This antibody can be used as a tool in different applications in T. gondii research areas, including diagnosis, therapy, and infection inhibition.