Detecting Toxoplasma gondii and circulating antigen in tissue - using monoclonal antibodies specific for particular antigenic proteins as immune reagents

摘要

Qualitative and quantitative determination of circulating Toxoplasma antigen (zTgA) and of endo- and cysto-zoites of T.gondii uses the monoclonal antibodies (MAb) MAM-1B2, -4F6 or -5B10 as immune reagents. Pref MAb are immobilised on microtitre plates, foils or spherical objects, eg beads or rods of polystyrene, PVC, etc. Alternatively, they are adsorbed on or covalently bound to a latex, bentonite, erythrocytes or carrier materials for immuno-affinity chromatography. USE/ADVANTAGE m using MAb have high specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility and can be standardised (contrast conventional methods using antisera). Detection of zTgA is used to diagnose infections in new-born babies, pregnant women, AIDS patients and subjects undergoing immunosuppressive treatments. MAb also provide very specific detection of endo- and cysto-zoites in tissues in routine histological diagnosis. When coupled to chromatographic carriers, MAb are used to recover antigenic fractions from crude T.gondii antigens.