Identification and characterization of putative secreted antigens from Babesia microti.

ABSTRACT: The need for improved diagnostic reagents to identify human long-term carriers of the zoonotic parasite Babesia microti is evidenced by numerous reported cases of transfusion-acquired infections. This report describes the identification and initial characterization of 27 clones representing seven genes or gene families that were isolated through serological expression cloning by using a technique that we specifically designed to screen for shed antigens. In this screen, sera from B. microti-infected SCID mice, putatively containing secreted or shed antigens from the parasites, were harvested and used to immunize syngeneic immunocompetent mice (BALB/c). After boosting, the sera from the BALB/c mice, containing antibodies against the immunodominant secreted antigens, were used to screen a B.

SUBMITTER: Homer MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC149722 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature