Abstract
The kinetics of antibody production against Blastocystis hominis, an emerging infectious protozoan parasite which causes intestinal disorder in humans and animals, was studied. Sera and intestinal secretions were collected from B. hominis-immunized Balb/C mice for 8 weeks. Flow cytometry was used to monitor the levels of immunoglobulins A (IgA), G (IgG), and M (IgM) from both types of biological samples. The kinetic profile derived from flow cytometry analysis revealed that IgM led the early immune action against B. hominis infection in immune sera while IgA was the predominant antibody isotype in intestinal secretions. Western blotting revealed an array of antigens recognized by both serum and intestinal secretion antibodies. Immunoreactive B. hominis soluble proteins with molecular weights ranging from 28.2 to 77.6 kDa were detected by serum antibodies and 15.1 to 117.5 kDa by secretory antibodies. These antigens may be cytoplasmic or membrane-bound as determined through indirect fluorescent antibody test. Moreover, two immunogens (39.8 and 77.6 kDa) were commonly recognized by serum antibodies, one (70.8 kDa) by secretory antibodies and two (55.0 and 56.2 kDa) by both serum and secretory antibodies, suggesting a possible target in the further understanding of B. hominis pathogenicity, discovery of virulence factors, and development of immunology-based diagnostic protocols and alternative modes of treatment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blutt SE, Warfield KL, Lewis DE, Conner ME (2002) Early response to rotavirus infection involves massive B cell activation. J Immunol 168:5716–5721
Chardès T, Bourguin I, Mevelec MN, Dubremetz JF, Bout B (1990) Antibody responses to Toxoplasma gondii in sera, intestinal secretions, and milk from orally infected mice and characterization of target antigens. Infect Immun 58:1240–1246
Chen XQ, Singh M, Ho LC, Tan SW, Yap EH (1999) Characterization of protein profiles and cross-reactivity of Blastocystis antigens by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis. Parasitol Res 85:343–346
Elson CO, Ealding W, Lefkowitz J (1984) A lavage technique allowing repeated measurement of IgA antibody in mouse intestinal secretions. J Immunol Methods 67:101–108
Hutchings AB, Helander A, Silvey KJ, Chandran K, Lucas WT, Nibert ML, Neutra MR (2004) Secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies against the σ1 outer capsid protein of reovirus type 1 Lang prevent infection of mouse Peyer’s Patches. J Virol 78:947–957
Kaneda Y, Horiki N, Cheng X, Tachibana H, Tsutsumi Y (2000) Serologic response to Blastocystis hominis infection in asymptomatic individuals. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 25:51–56
Lanuza MD, Carbajal JA, Villar J, Mir A, Borrás R (1999) Soluble-protein and antigenic heterogeneity in axenic Blastocystis hominis isolates: pathogenic implications. Parasitol Res 85:93–97
Nasirudeen AM, Tan KS, Singh M, Yap EH (2001) Programmed cell death in a human intestinal parasite, Blastocystis hominis. Parasitology 123:235–246
Nimri LF (1993) Evidence of an epidemic of Blastocystis hominis infections in preschool children in northern Jordan. J Clin Microbiol 31:2706–2708
Nimri L, Batchoun R (1994) Intestinal colonization of symptomatic and asymptomatic schoolchildren with Blastocystis hominis. J Clin Microbiol 32:2865–2866
Noël C, Dufernez F, Gerbod D, Edgcomb VP, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Ho LC, Singh M, Wintjens R, Sogin ML, Capron M, Pierce R, Zenner L, Viscogliosi E (2005) Molecular phylogenies of Blastocystis isolates from different hosts: implications for genetic diversity, identification of species, and zoonosis. J Clin Microbiol 43:348–355
Rivera WL (2008) Phylogenetic analysis of Blastocystis isolates from animal and human hosts in the Philippines. Vet Parasitol 156:178–182
Rivera WL, Tan MA (2005) Molecular characterization of Blastocystis isolates in the Philippines by riboprinting. Parasitol Res 96:253–257
Rudin A, Johansson EL, Bergquist C, Holmgren J (1998) Differential kinetics and distribution of antibodies in serum and nasal and vaginal secretions after nasal and oral vaccination of humans. Infect Immun 66:3390–3396
Stenzel DJ, Boreham PF (1996) Blastocystis hominis revisited. Clin Microbiol Rev 9:563–584
Tan KS (2008) New insights on classification, identification, and clinical relevance of Blastocystis spp. Clin Microbiol Rev 21:639–665
Thathaisong U, Worapong J, Mungthin M, Tan-Ariya P, Viputtigul K, Sudatis A, Noonai A, Leelayoova S (2003) Blastocystis isolates from a pig and a horse are closely related to Blastocystis hominis. J Clin Microbiol 41:967–975
Villar J, Carbajal J, Lanuza M, Navarro M, Borras R (1999) Identification of surface proteins of trophic and cyst forms of Blastocystis hominis by biotin labeling. Fol Parasitol 46:103–106
Wakelin D (1996) Immunity to parasites: how parasitic infections are controlled, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Zierdt CH (1991) Blastocystis hominis—past and future. Clin Microbiol Rev 4:61–79
Zierdt CH, Nagy B (1993) Antibody response to Blastocystis hominis infections. Ann Intern Med 118:985–986
Acknowledgments
This work was supported financially by grants from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (to H.J.S.), the Natural Sciences Research Institute, and the University of the Philippines System (to W.L.R.). The experiments conducted in this study comply with the current laws of the Philippines.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Santos, H.J., Rivera, W.L. Kinetic analysis of antibody responses to Blastocystis hominis in sera and intestinal secretions of orally infected mice. Parasitol Res 105, 1303–1310 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1556-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1556-0