Human Antibody Response to the Nucleoside Triphosphate Hydrolase ofToxoplasma Gondii

摘要

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that uses a recombinant protein ofToxoplasma gondiias antigen was used for the detection of specific antibodies in human sera. An antigenic portion of theT. gondiinucleoside triphosphate hydrolase (NTPase) was expressed inEscherichia colias a glutathioneS#x2212;transferase fusion protein with an apparent molecular mass of about 50000. A total of 118T. gondiipositive and 63 negative sera were examined. Seven of theT. gondiipositive sera, but none of the negative sera, reacted with the recombinant NTPase. Advantages and disadvantages that are associated with the use of fusion proteins as antigens in ELISA are discussed.