Immunological characterizations of a cloned 13.1-kilodalton protein from pathogenic Naegleria fowleri

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2003 Sep;10(5):954-9. doi: 10.1128/cdli.10.5.954-959.2003.

Abstract

We previously cloned an antigenic gene (named nfa1) from a cDNA library of Naegleria fowleri by immunoscreening. The nfa1 gene had a coding nucleotide sequence consisting of 357 bases and produced a recombinant 13.1-kDa protein (Nfa1). In this study, to get more information regarding the recombinant Nfa1 protein (rNfa1), we produced an anti-Nfa1 polyclonal antibody from mice immunized with rNfa1 and used a peroxidase staining method to carry out immunocytochemistry experiments. In addition, we observed the effect of the presence of an anti-Nfa1 antibody on the in vitro cytotoxicity of N. fowleri against Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Trophozoites of N. fowleri in cultivation reacted strongly with a peroxidase-labeled anti-Nfa1 antibody. In inflammatory and necrotic regions of brain tissue infected with N. fowleri, labeled trophozoites that were stained brown were also observed. When examined using a transmission electron microscope, the Nfa1 protein showed pseudopodium-specific immunolocalization on a trophozoite of N. fowleri. When examined using a light microscope, CHO cells grown in cocultures with N. fowleri trophozoites (group I) for 48 h showed morphologically severe destruction but CHO cells grown in cocultures with N. fowleri trophozoites and an anti-Nfa1 polyclonal antibody (group II) showed less destruction. The results of a lactate dehydrogenase release assay showed that group I CHO cells exhibited 81% cytotoxicity and group II CHO cells exhibited 13.8% cytotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amebiasis / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain / microbiology
  • CHO Cells
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cricetinae
  • Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Naegleria fowleri / immunology*
  • Naegleria fowleri / ultrastructure
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Nfa1 protein, Naegleria fowleri
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins