Abstract
The trophozoites ofGiardia lamblia possess several protein antigens, predominant among them a protein of ∼32,000 Da. In the present study, we used monospecific antibodies that recognize this protein to demonstrate its presence on a variety ofG. lamblia isolates from human and animal sources. Immune electron microscopy was used to localize 32-kDa antigen on the trophozoite membrane and disk. Immunofluorescent assays employing monospecific antibodies confirmed the presence of 32-kDa antigen on the membrane and disk and its absence on flagella or nuclei. The N-terminal 17 amino acids of the 32-kDa antigen are identical to α-1-giardin, a protein component of microribbons on the ventral disk. These results suggest that the 32-kDa immunodominant trophozoite antigen is α-1-giardin.
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Wenman, W.M., Meuser, R.U., Nyugen, Q. et al. Characterization of an immunodominantGiardia lamblia protein antigen related to alpha giardin. Parasitol Res 79, 587–592 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932243
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932243