Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2012
Abstract
Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection is essential in pregnant women and immunosuppressed patients. Numerous studies have shown that the recombinant production of several Toxoplasma antigens, including dense granule antigens (GRAs) has high potential as diagnostic reagents. In the present study, we produced GRA2 using Pichia pastoris system. RNA of T. gondii RH strain tachyzoite was used as a template to produce cDNA clones of full-length GRA2 via reverse transcriptase PCR. Amplicons were inserted into pPICZ alpha A and the recombinant plasmid transformed into P. pastoris, X-33 strain. The expressed recombinant protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. A recombinant protein of similar to 28 kDa was produced, which could be detected by toxoplasmosis positive human sera indicating that the recombinant protein retained its antigenicity. The present study indicates that P. pastoris-expressed GRA2 should be useful for detection of Toxoplasma infection.
Keywords
Toxoplasma gondii, GRA2, expression, Western blot
Divisions
fac_med
Publication Title
The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
Volume
43
Issue
1
Publisher
SEAMEO Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network
Additional Information
Correspondence: Dr Lau Yee Ling, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 6 03 7967 4749; Fax: 6 03 7967 4754 E-mail: lauyeeling@um.edu.my