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An iron-binding Trypanosoma cruzi urinary antigen
R S Corral1, G M Bertot, P B Petray
1Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital de Niños, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Parasite (Paris, France)
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Researchers identified an 80-kDa Trypanosoma cruzi urinary antigen (UAg) in infected dogs. This iron-binding parasite component is structurally related to transferrin and selectively recognized by specific antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Trypanosoma cruzi infection leads to the presence of circulating antigens.
- Urinary antigens can serve as diagnostic markers for parasitic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize an 80-kDa Trypanosoma cruzi urinary antigen (UAg).
- To investigate the structural and functional properties of UAg.
- To confirm UAg as a specific circulating antigen of T. cruzi.
Main Methods:
- Affinity purification of UAg from infected dog urine.
- Amino acid sequencing and iron binding experiments.
- Monoclonal antibody production and immunoprecipitation assays.
- Metabolic labeling of T. cruzi epimastigotes with [35S] methionine.
Main Results:
- An 80-kDa UAg was successfully purified from urine of dogs infected with T. cruzi.
- UAg exhibits structural and functional similarities to transferrin family proteins, including iron binding.
- Monoclonal antibodies specifically recognized UAg, confirming it as a circulating T. cruzi antigen.
- An 80-kDa T. cruzi antigen co-migrating with UAg was detected in labeled epimastigotes.
Conclusions:
- UAg is an iron-binding component of T. cruzi.
- UAg is eliminated in the urine of T. cruzi-infected hosts.
- UAg represents a potential diagnostic marker for Chagas disease.