Improved specificity ofTrypanosoma cruziidentification by polymerase chain reaction using an oligonucleotide derived from the amino-terminal sequence of a Tc24 protein

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Abstract
SUMMARY: In the present study, the diagnostic value ofTrypanosoma cruzirecombinant protein (Tc24) was examined. Although antibodies against Tc24 were detected during natural and experimentalT. cruziinfections, specificity studies revealed that sera fromT. rangeli-infected mice also recognized to some extent Tc24 protein. In addition, sera from Tc24-immunized mice reacted against a 21 kDa polypeptide inT. rangeliextracts. Detailed analysis of the antibody response against 20—40 peptide localized in the Tc24 amino-terminal domain suggests that this sequence is not expressed byT. rangeli21 kDa antigen. Therefore, the PCR reaction using oligonucleotides corresponding to a 20–26 peptide clearly demonstrated the specificity of the oligoprobes forT. cruziidentification. Positive signals were also found when using blood samples fromT. cruzi-infected mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the PCR-based 20–26 assay may be useful in the specific diagnosis of Chagas' disease.