Article
Characterization of Endotrypanum Parasites Using Specific Monoclonal Antibodies
Registro en:
FRANCO, Antonia Maria Ramos et al. Characterization of Endotrypanum Parasites Using Specific Monoclonal Antibodies. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, v. 92, n. 1, p. 63-69, Jan./Feb. 1997.
0074-0276
10.1590/S0074-02761997000100013
1678-8060
Autor
Franco, Antonia Maria Ramos
Machado, Gérzia M. C.
Naiff, Roberto D.
Moreira, Celia F. S.
McMahon-Pratt, Diane
Grimaldi Jr., Gabriel
Resumen
A large number of Endotrypanum stocks (representing an heterogeneous population of strains) have
been screened against a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) derived for selected species of
Endotrypanum or Leishmania, to see whether this approach could be used to group/differentiate further
among these parasites. Using different immunological assay systems, MAbs considered specific for the
genus Endotrypanum (E-24, CXXX-3G5-F12) or strain M6159 of E. schaudinni (E-2, CXIV-3C7-F5)
reacted variably according to the test used but in the ELISA or immunofluorescence assay both reacted
with all the strains tested. Analyses using these MAbs showed antigenic diversity occurring among the
Endotrypanum strains, but no qualitative or quantitative reactivity pattern could be consistently related
to parasite origin (i.e., host species involved) or geographic area of isolation. Western blot analyses of
the parasites showed that these MAbs recognized multiple components. Differences existed either in the
epitope density or molecular forms associated with the antigenic determinants and therefore allowed
the assignment of the strains to specific antigenic groups. Using immunofluorescence or ELISA assay,
clone E-24 produced reaction with L. equatorensis (which is a parasite of sloth and rodent), but not with
other trypanosomatids examined. Interestingly, the latter parasite and the Endotrypanum strains crossreacted with a number of MAbs that were produced against members of the L. major-L. tropica complex.