The dense granule protein GRA2, a new marker for the serodiagnosis of acute Toxoplasma infection: comparison of sera collected in both France and Iran from pregnant women

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2007 Aug;58(4):419-26. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2007.03.003. Epub 2007 May 16.

Abstract

GRA2 is a highly immunogenic protein secreted from the dense granules of Toxoplasma gondii. Recent success in purifying full-length, soluble GRA2 from bacteria as a thioredoxin (TRX)-(Hisx6) fusion protein led to investigate the antigenicity of the recombinant protein against human sera. On immunoblots, TRX-(Hisx6)-GRA2 was recognized by sera collected in Iran from T. gondii-infected pregnant women. An IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to evaluate the reactivity of sera, collected from pregnant women both in France and Iran, to the TRX-(Hisx6)-GRA2 fusion protein. Specificity of the test was 96.4%. Sensitivity of the GRA2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ranged from 95.8% (sera collected in France) to 100% (sera collected in Iran) for sera of acute infection and from 65.7% (sera collected in France) to 71.4% (sera collected in Iran) for sera of chronic infection. The recombinant GRA2 could thus advantageously complement previously described T. gondii antigens for the serodiagnosis of acute Toxoplasma infection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
  • France
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Iran
  • Pregnant Women
  • Protozoan Proteins* / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins* / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins* / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins* / isolation & purification
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serologic Tests / methods
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Gra2 protein, Toxoplasma gondii
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins