Toxoplasma godnii recombinant chimeric antigens - IgM and IgG ELISAs - mouse serum samples

This study presents an evaluation of tetravalent recombinant chimeric proteins containing fragments of the Toxoplasma gondii antigens, SAG2, SAG1, GRA1, GRA2, MIC1, MAG1, ROP1 and AMA1, as potential replacements of a the soluble, whole-cell tachyzoite lysate (TLA) used in serological assays. Recombinant chimeric proteins (SAG1-MIC1-MAG1-GRA2, SAG2-GRA1-ROP1-GRA2, SAG2-GRA1-ROP1-AMA1N, AMA1N-SAG2-GRA1-ROP1, AMA1C-SAG2-GRA1-ROP1, and AMA1-SAG2-GRA1-ROP1) obtained by genetic engineering were tested for their reactivity with specific IgM and IgG antibodies from sera of experimentally infected mice and humans with T. gondii infection using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum samples from patients with acquired T. gondii infection and sera from seronegative individuals were examined. The reactivity of chimeric antigens with antibodies generated during T. gondii invasion was measured and compared to the results obtained in assays based on whole-cell Toxoplasma antigen. Chimeric proteins proved effective in differentiation between T. gondii-infected and uninfected individuals (100% sensitivity and specificity in the IgG ELISAs) which shows their potential usefulness as a replacements for TLA in standardized commercial tests for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis