Immunodominant antigens of helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients with different gastroduodenal diseases

To detect the immunogenic proteins in Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] strains isolated from patients with different gastric diseases. We performed this study in the Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, during July 2003 to September 2004. Total proteins of H. pylori strains isolated from the gastric biopsies of 3 groups of patients were separated by 1D-SDS-PAGE and then blotted with the sera of their respective hosts. In SDS-PAGE the members of each group showed high correlation according to similarity in their patterns, resulting in considering them in the same cluster. The patterns of immunoblots differed from that of Coomassie Brilliant Blue stained gels. The blotting method did not recognize some of the protein bands in the SDS-PAGE. Only the bands of 106 and 45 kDa from H. pylori strains isolated from patients with gastric cancer were significantly [p<0.05] recognized specifically with the sera of their respective patients, and the band of 13 kDa was recognized specifically [p<0.05] with the sera of nonulceric patients. With the exception of these bands, in the patterns of blotting of the sera from all patients no significant differences were observed. By using 1D blotting methods we could find 2 antigenic protein bands [106 and 45 kDa] for H. pylori strains isolated from cancerous patients, and one [13 kDa] for the strains isolated from nonulceric patients, which were specifically recognized with their respective host

Identification of amastigote-specific antigens of Leishmania donovani using kala-azar patient sera.

Antigenic characterization of the soluble fraction of axenic amastigotes of Leishmania donovani ( strain Dd8, causative agent of Indian kala-azar) and their comparison with promastigotes is reported. The axenic amastigotes were assessed for their immunological status employing anti-A2 monoclonal antibody which is extremely specific for L. donovani amastigotes. SDS-PAGE of 35[S] methionine labeled proteins of the two parasite stages exhibited few stage specific and some conserved antigens in both the stages. An increased synthesis of heat shock proteins was observed in axenic amastigotes. Western blot experiments employing sera of kala azar positive patients identified immunodominent antigens of 116,83,26 and 12 kDa in axenic amastigotes which were not present in promastigotes. These amastigote stage specific antigens may have immense potential in immunodiagnosis and prophylaxis of kala-azar.

Production specific antigens from Trichinella spiralis using a continuous elution method and isoelectric focusing.

Immunodominant antigens of 45-53 kDa (one band per fraction) were obtained from excretory/secretory (E/S) and somatic products of infective-larvae of Trichinella spiralis using a continuous-elution method. They were further resolved by isoelectric focusing into different isoforms (45 kDa: pI4.47, 5.09, 5.47 and 5.86; 47 kDa: pI4.72 and 4.97; 53 kDa: pI4.86, 5.11, 5.44 and 5.78). In immunoblotting, the isoforms of pI 5.09, 5.86, 4.97, 5.44 and 5.78 did not cross-react with antisera against Trichuris suis, Metastrongylus apri, Gnathostoma hispidum and Stephanurus dentatus. Hence, they have the potential to serve as specific antigens for the serodiagnosis of trichinellosis.