Identification of Antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi Which Induce Antibodies during Experimental Chagas' Disease

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Abstract
Experiments were conducted to identify antigens of T. cruzi (Brazil strain) to which antibodies are directed during the course of experimental Chagas'' disease in C3H(He) (susceptible) and C57BL/6J (resistant) female mice. An extract of culture forms of the parasite was subjected to SDS [sodium dodecylsulfate]-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to a solid phase matrix of nitrocellulose and used as antigens to detect antibodies in the sera of infected mice. Reactive antibodies were detected using an avidin-biotin peroxidase test. Two antigens were consistently detected with sera of normal, uninfected C57BL/6 and C3H(He) mice (51,000 and 44,000; and 53,000 and 46,000 daltons, respectively). A total of 32 antigens with MW of 230,000-25,000 daltons reacted with antibodies in sera of C3H mice infected for 25 days. Both the number of antigens detected and intensity of reactions increased with time of infection in C3H mice. An early (day 5), rapid, although weak response was observed to antigens of 85,000, 56,000, 53,000, 46,000 and 41,000 daltons. Throughout infection intense responses to antigens of 75,000, 67,000, 45,000, 41,000 and 36,000 daltons were detected. A similar number of components (a total of 34) with MW of 210,000-20,000 daltons were detected as being antigenic during the course of T. cruzi infection of C57BL/6 mice. A high number of antigens (25) was observed early in infection of C57BL/6 mice by day 10, including components with MW of 90,000, 85,000 and 70,000 daltons. Only minor changes were detected, however, after day 20 until day 120, when increases in the number of antigens and the intensity of certain reactions (e.g., antigens of 75,000, 46,000 and 26,000 daltons) were detected. Antigens of MV of 75,000, 60,000, 46,000, 35,000 and 26,000 daltons were more intensely labeled with the sera of infected C57BL/6 mice than were the rest of the components. Sera of C57BL/6 mice infected for 20 days identified an antigen of 43,000 daltons not detected with sera of infected C3H mice. Antibodies present in the sera of C3H(He) mice labeled 2 antigens of MW of 60,000 and 26,000 daltons which were not detected by the sera from C57BL/6 mice until late (day 140, and days 50-100, respectively) in infection. Apparently, the difference noted may be important in the differential susceptibility of C57BL/6 and C3H(He) mice to T cruzi.

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